1 


Golden  Jubilee  Souvenir 


Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


1 8 5 5 1 9 0 5 


The  Fiftieth  Anniversary 

of  its  Dedication  by  the  late 

BISHOP  MATTHEW  SIMPSON 


JUNE,  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  and  FIFTY-FIVE 


Anniversary  services,  May  29th  to  June  11th,  1905 
in  the  Church,  Michigan  Street,  between  North 
Division  and  South  Division  Streets.  ::  :: 

A Book  for  Methodists.  Price  50c 

Rev.  W.  A.  V.  E.  PATTYSON,  Pastor.  ::  ::  WM.  COULSON,  Clerk 


MICHIGAN  ST.,  NEAR  NORTH  DIVISION  ST. 


'£Ji-,E>clvl  c-oX. 


~f3£?&cr 


BISHOP  MATTHEW  SIMPSON 


577981 


INTRODUCTION 

Old  9race  Church 

is  now  a down-town  church — so  called — the  gateway  of 
strangers  and  Methodists  entering  the  city,  whose  stay 
or  term  of  membership  is  short.  They  soon  become 
permanently  located  in  other  parts  of  the  city.  Out  of 
its  present  membership  of  400,  less  than  25  date  back  25 
years,  and  not  over  15  per  cent.  10  years. 

Fifty  years  ago,  when  the  Church  was  dedicated,  the 
location  was  then  the  most  prosperous  in  the  city  and 
remained  so  for  over  30  years.  But  for  over  20  years,  so 
fast  have  the  old  ranks  been  depleted  by  the  old  members 
and  residents  moving  to  other  parts  of  the  city,  that  it  is 
not  now  self-sustaining,  frequently  calling  on  its  old 
members  and  good  friends  for  financial  aid. 

Strange  as  it  seems  to  us  now,  in  the  prosperous  days 
a mortgage  was  placed  on  the  Parsonage,  the  interest  on 
which  has  been  a continual  burden.  The  mortgage  was 
originally  $2,500,  reduced  to  $2,000  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  I.  T.  Walker  in  1895.  and  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  B.  H.  Stauffer,  it  was  further  reduced  to  $1,600 
at  which  it  now  stands. 

During  the  six  year’s  services  of  the  Rev.  B.  H. 
Stauffer,  from  1897  to  1903,  nearly  $7,000  was  raised, 
over  3-5  from  the  old  members  and  friends  outside  the 
Church,  about  half  being  spent  for  necessary  repairs  and 
about  half  for  a new  organ.  So  that  during  the  last  ten 
years  there  has  been  no  opportunity  to  pay  off  old  debts. 

On  this,  the  50th  anniversary,  our  pastor  with  the 
Official  Board  thought  it  best  to  appeal  to  the  old  mem- 
bers and  friends  for  an  uplifting  in  financial  affairs.  We 
have  started  out  to  raise  $5000,  first  to  pay  outstanding 
trustee  debts  of  about  $700.  Second,  to  pay  off  the 
mortgage.  Third,  to  provide  a fund  to  decorate  the 
Church,  paint  it,  new  furnace  and  other  repairs  that 
must  soon  be  made. 

By  the  sale  of  this  Souvenir  (the  expense  of  issuing 
being  borne  by  the  advertisers),  it  is  hoped  to  largely  aid 
in  paying  off  the  mortgage.  The  proceeds  of  this  and  the 
Ladies’  Aid  Home  Socials  being  applied  exclusively  to 
that  end. 

We  believe  the  Souvenir  is  worth  more  than  the  price 
asked,  either  for  its  illustrations  or  reading  matter  and 
will  grow  more  valuable  and  interesting  as  a souvenir  to 
Methodists  as  the  years  go  by. 

Respectfully,  THE  COMMITTEE. 


REV.  JOHN  WESLEY 


REV.  JOHN  WESLEY,  M.  A. 

FOUNDER  OF  METHODISM. 


John  Wesley  was  born  at  Epworth  in  Linconshire,  England,  June 
17th,  1703.  After  a short  illness  he  died  in  London,  March  2nd,  1791, 
in  the  88th  year  of  his  age. 

The  family  name  was  variously  spelled  Wesley,  Westley  and  is 
supposed  to  be  the  same  as  Wellesley.  Garrett  Wellesley  of  Dungan- 
non, Ireland,  offered  to  make  Charles,  a younger  brother  of  John,  his 
heir  on  condition  of  his  settling  in  Ireland,  believing  him  to  be  of  his 
own  family.  The  offer  was  not  accepted  and  the  estate  of  Mr.  Wel- 
lesley went  to  another  branch  of  the  family  which  was  soon  raised  to 
the  Irish  peerage  with  the  title  of  Earl  of  Morington,  and  from  which 
the  Duke  of  Wellington  and  the  Marquis  of  Wellesley  sprung. 

Another  remarkable  story  is  connected  with  the  parsonage  of 
Epworth,  and  with  the  early  years  of  John  Wesley’s  life — the  con- 
tinued disturbance  of  the  family  throughout  a considerable  time,  by 
loudknockings  and  other  noises,  which  could  not  be  accounted  for, 
and  which  therefore  were  regarded  as  preternatural,  although  Mr. 
Wesley  and  his  household  were  less  effected  by  the  strange  visitation 
than  perhaps  its  authors  expected  them  to  be,  and  persisted  in  resid- 
ing in  the  parsonage,  even  making  sport  of  “Old  Jeffery,”  their  un- 
seen visitant,  who  “was  plainly  a Jacobite  goblin,  and  seldom  suf- 
fered Mr.  Wesley  to  pray  for  the  King  and  the  Prince  of  Wales  with- 
out disturbing  the  family  prayers.” 

In  1735,  John  Wesley  was  induced  to  go  out  to  Georgia  with 
General  Oglethorpe,  to  preach  to  the  Indians  and  colonists.  His  re- 
ligious views  at  this  time  were  strongly  tinctured  with  asceticism.  His 
intercourse  with  Moravians,  who  were  his  fellow  passengers  to  Amer- 
ica ,and  afterward  his  fellow-laborers  in  the  colony,  tended  to  stimu- 
late his  religious  zeal.  He  attempted  to  establish  a discipline  in  the 
colony,  very  different  from  that  of  the  Church  of  England  at  home, 
and  failed  in  the  attempt.  The  difficulties  of  his  position  were  in- 
creased by  an  affair  in  which  he  became  involved  with  the  daughter 
of  the  chief  magistrate  of  Savannah,  whom  he  wished  to  marry;  but 
on  the  advice  of  the  Moravian  bishop  and  elders,  to  whom  he  sub- 
mitted the  matter,  he  withdrew  from  her,  and  she  very  soon  marrying 
another,  Wesley  refused  her  admission  to  the  communion;  upon  which 
her  husband  raised  an  action  at  law,  and  Wesley,  finding  Savannah  no 
suitable  place  for  him,  and,  as  he  said,  “shaking  the  dust  off  his  feet,” 
returned  to  England,  having  resided  in  America  not  quite  two  years. 
With  religious  zeal  undiminished,  he  maintained  an  intimate  connec- 
tion with  the  Moravians  in  London. 


BISHOP  CHARLES  H.  FOWLER,  D.  D. 

150  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 


John  Wesley  was  the  son  of  liev.  Samuel  Wesley,  rector  of  Ep- 
worth.  His  mother,  Susanna  Wesley,  was  a woman  of  extraordinary 
sense  and  piety.  She  was  led  to  interest  herself  particularly  in  her 
son  John,  who,  when  about  six  years  old,  had  a singular  escape  from 
being  burned  to  death  in  a fire  which  destroyed  the  parsonage. 

In  visiting  a condemned  prisoner,  Wesley  became  convinced  of 
the  power  of  extempore  prayer,  and  declared  that  he  could  no  longer 
be  confined  to  the  forms  of  prayer  generally  used.  4 4 Neither  do  I pur- 
pose to  be  confined  to  them  any  more,”  he  adds,  “but  I intend  to  pray, 
with  a form  or  without,  as  I may  fined  suitable  to  different  occasions.  ’ ’ 
On  May  24,  1738,  he  found  the  spiritual  rest  for  which  his  soul  had 
longed.  “I  felt  I did  trust  in  Christ,”  he  writes,  “and  an  assurance 
was  given  me  that  He  had  taken  away  my  sins,  even  mine,  and  saved 
me  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death.” 

Wesley  at  once  began , to  preach  with  an  earnestness  that  at- 
tracted attention.  Everywhere,  in  churches,  in  factories,  in  homes,  on 
the  streets  and  in  fields  he  preached  the  Word.  The  preaching  of  the 
doctrines  of  repentance,  regeneration  and  sanctification  were  at  once 
honored  of  God.  Those  who  were  saved  soon  brought  others.  Wesley 
soon  saw  the  need  of  some  organization  whereby  he  could  set  these 
converts  to  work.  Hence  classes  were  organized  and  leaders  ap- 
pointed. 

During  the  years  that  followed  the  founding  of  these  societies 
Wesley  did  prodigious  work.  He  probably  traveled  great  distances, 
every  year,  than  any  other  man  in  England. 

Wesley  was  a clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England.  The  clergy 
were  often  jealous  of  his  activity  in  their  parishes.  Gradually  the 
ecclesiastical  authorities  forbade  his  preaching  in  the  churches  of  the 
Establishment,  though  in  1783  he  writes,  “The  tide  is  now  turned;  1 
have  more  invitations  to  preach  in  churches  than  I can  accept.” 

While  Wesley  himself  remained  in  the  Church  of  England,  he 
recommended  the  formation  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
America,  where,  after  the  revolution,  the  Methodists  were  left  without, 
shepherds,  the  Established  clergy  having,  for  the  most  part,  returned 
to  England.  In  vain  had  Wesley  requested  the  Bishop  of  London  for 
the  ordination  of  some  pious  man  who  might  minister  to  the  needs  of 
the  people  in  America.  His  request  was  refused.  In  1784  he  solemnly 
set  apart  Dr.  Thomas  Coke  as  Superintendent  over  the  American 
preachers  and  societies,  Francis  Asbury  to  be  his  colleague.  They 
were  to  ordain  others  to  administer  the  Sacraments.  He  also  ordained 
Whatcoat  and  Yasey  as  Elders. 

This  step  separated  the  Methodists  in  America  from  the  Established 
Church.  When  Episcopalians  of  the  present  day  assert  that  John 
Wesley  was  ever  a loyal  son  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  that  he 
never  intended  Methodism  to  become  a separate  religious  denomina- 
tion, it  is  necessary  only  to  relate  his  action  regarding  American 


BISHOP  JOSEPH  F.  BERRY 


Methodism  to  show  that  he  was  not  only  fully  aware  of  the  proposition 
to  organize  a distinct  Methodist  body  in  America,  but  that  he  was 
the  author  of  the  method  of  its  organization.  The  Wesleys  did  not 
leave  the  Established  Church ; the  Church  left  them  by  refusing  them 
preaching  places  and  their  followers  the  Sacraments. 

John  Wesley’s  executive  ability  is  shown  in  the  organization  of 
his  conferences  and  societies  out  of  which,  soon  after  his  death, 
sprung  the  “Wesleyan  Conference.” 

John  Wesley  earned  universal  fame  by  honest  and  faithful  effort, 
more  , perhaps,  than  any  other  evangelist  on  the  globe. 


A Short  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 

States. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  is  the  name  assumed  by  the 
Wesleyan  Methodists  in  this  country  when,  after  the  attainment  of 
national  independence,  they  were  organized  as  a denomination,  under 
rules  proposed  by  John  Wesley  and  adopted  by  themselves.  Their 
dictrine  is  set  forth  in  25  articles,  formed  from  the  39  of  the  Church 
of  England  by  omitting  some  of  them  entirely  and  modifying  several 
of  the  others,  with  the  design  to  offer  a broad  and  liberal  basis  on 
which  the  general  body  of  evangelical  Christians  might  unite  together 
in  brotherly  love.  Since  1834  a restrictive  rule  has  removed  from  the 
authorities  of  the  church  all  power  to  revoke,  alter,  or  change  these 
articles  of  religion ; or  to  establish  any  new  standards  or  rules  of  doc- 
trine contrary  to  the  existing  and  established  doctrinal  standards. 
Their  theology  is  styled  by  themselves  “Arminian,”  according  to  what 
they  consider  the  true  import  of  the  name  as  exhibited  in  Wesley’s 
doctrinal  sermons. 

The  bishops  preside  in  the  conferences;  form  the  districts  ac- 
cording to  their  judgment;  appoint  the  preachers  to  their  fields,  which 
until  1900  was  for  terms  of  three  and  five  years,  but  five  years  ago  the 
Time  Limit  was  removed  by  a vote  of  the  General  Conference.  Now 
the  Presiding  Bishop  appoints  and  reappoints  every  year,  except  the 
presiding  elders,  whose  term  may  extend  to  six  years  and  a few  others 
by  special  appointment;  ordain  deacons,  elders,  and  bishops  newly 
elected;  travel  through  the  denomination  at  large  and  oversee,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  rules  of  the  general  conference,  the  spiritual  and 
temporal  affairs  of  the  church.  They  have  no  particular  dioceses,  but 
exercise  a joint  jurisdiction  over  the  whole  church  as  an  itinerant 
general  superintendency.  They  annually  arrange  and  divide  the  work 
among  themselves,  being  responsible  for  its  performance  to  the  gen- 
eral conference  by  which  they  are  elected  and  have  their  respective 
residences  assigned.  As  an  elder  was  originally  put  in  charge  of  a dis- 
trict containing  several  circuits,  he  was  practically  a presiding  officer 


REV.  WARD  PLATT, 

PRESIDING  ELDER,  BUFFALO  DISTRICT 


WE  CERTAINLY 

ARE  MAKING  THIS 

THE  UNUSUAL  STORE 

IN  POINT  OF... 

BIG  STOCKS 

AND  . . . 

BIG  VARIETY 

You  will  find  many  a quaint  and  useful  piece 
here  to  fit  some  odd  corner  or  other  in  your  home, 
that  you  could  not  find  anywhere  else,  no  matter 
how  diligently  you  look.  We  would  direct  your 
special  attention  to  the  fact  that 

WE  ARE 

Complete  Home  Furnishers 

That  means  that  within  the  four  walls  of  this 
store  is  to  be  found  everything  needed  for  house- 
keeping and  house  beautifying. 

The  transforming  of  bare  rooms  into  completely 
furnished  apartments  is  our  specialty.  And  we  do  it 
to  the  complete  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  Just 
now  we  are  making  very  special  displays  of 

Parlor  Suites, 

Davenports,  Divans  and  Couches, 

Stoves,  Ranges,  Gas  Stoves  and  Gas  Ranges, 

Refrigerators,  the  New  Kind  and  All  Other  Kinds, 
Carpets,  Curtains,  Rugs  and  Mattings, 

Porch,  Lawn  and  Summer  Furniture, 

Baby  Cabs  and  Go-Carts. 

We  would  very  much  appreciate  the  honor  of  a visit  of  inspection. 

YOUR  CASH  IS  GOOD  YOUR  CREDITS  GOOD 

The  Messersmith  Stores 


563-565  MAIN  STREET. 

548-552  WASHINGTON  STREET. 
306-310  MICHIGAN  STREET. 


Rev.  W.  A.  V.  E.  Pattyson, 

PASTOR  GRACE  M.  E,  CHURCH 


over  them.  Thus  the  office  of  presiding  elder  was  gradually  estab- 
lished, and  became  very  useful.  It  is  a sub-episcopate,  charged  with 
the  duties  of  oversight  and  administration  in  a limited  sphere,  and 
makes  the  ecclesiastical  system  complete  and  strong.  Their  intimate 
acquaintance  in  their  districts  with  pastors  and  people,  and  their 
presidence  in  the  quarterly  conferences,  enable  the  presiding  elders  to 
give  valuable  information  and  counsel  to  the  bishop  in  arranging  the 
appointments.  In  doing  this,  usage  makes  them  the  bishop’s  advisers, 
but  with  no  actual  authority,  as  the  church  considers  it  wise  to  put 
the  whole  responsibility  of  the  appointments  on  the  bishop ! 

Local  preachers  have  a share  in  the  acts  of  the  district  and 
quarterly  conferences;  and  as  a lay  ministry  form  a body  of  self- 
supporting  evangelists.  All  church  buildings  and  parsonages  belong 
to  the  local  society,  and  are  held  by  trustees  chosen  according  to  the 
law  of  the  state  or  territory  wherever  a particular  mode  is  prescribed, 
and  in  other  cases  by  the  quarterly  conference.  Admission  to  mem- 
bership in  the  church  is  preceded  by  a probation  of  six  months  or 
longer,  as  may  be  determined  in  particular  cases,  after  which  the  pro- 
bationer may  be  admitted  to  full  membership  by  complying  with  the 
rules  prescribed.  Members  of  other  evangelical  churches,  coming  with 
proper  testimonials,  are  received  into  fellowship  without  probation. 
Methodism,  says  the  historian  of  the  church,  presented  itself  to  the 
new  nation  as  an  Episcopal  church  with  all  the  necessary  functions 
and  functionaries  of  such  a body;  the  only  one  of  Protestant  denomi- 
nation, for  the  colonial  fragments  of  the  English  establishment  had 
not  yet  been  reorganized. 

At  the  end  of  the  century  they  had  increased  their  15,000  mem- 
bers to  65,000  and  their  80  itinerants  to  280,  besides  many  who,  physic- 
ally unequal  to  the  strain  of  the  advance,  still  did  their  utmost  in 
easier  fields.  Bishop  Coke’s  stay  in  the  country  was  only  for  limited 
periods,  and  after  1787  some  of  the  more  arduous  portions  of  the  epis- 
copal labors  devolved  on  Bishop  Asbury  alone,  who  was  the  chief 
apostle  of  the  church,  consecrating  to  the  work  all  his  powers,  mak- 
ing himself  an  example  to  all  in  self-denying  toil,  giving  personal 
attention  to  minute  details,  and  visiting  much  from  house  to  house. 
One  of  the  first  Sunday-schools  in  America  was  organized  by  him  in 
1786,  and  four  years  after  the  conference  ordered  Sunday-schools  to 
be  generally  established  for  the  instruction  of  “poor  children,  white 
and  black,  in  learning  and  piety.  , 

Prom  the  beginning  of  their  history,  Methodists  have  had  regard 
to  the  wants  of  their  sick  and  superannuated  ministers,  and  of  de- 
ceased ministers’  destitute  families.  Funds  for  their  relief  have  been 
raised  in  various  ways  and  have  been  designated  by  different  names. 
At  present  the  principal  dependence  for  this  purpose  is  on  the  contri- 
butions of  the  congregation.  The  Methodist  church  itself  is  justly  re- 
garded by  its  members  as  one  of  “the  great  home-mission  enterprises 


REV.  BYRON  H.  STAUFFER 
Pastor  Riverside  Church.  Former  Pastor  Grace  Church 


of  the  North  American  continent,”  and  for  a long  time  it  called  for  all 
their  resources  of  men  and  money.  While  the  constant  extension  of 
the  church  was  thus  a missionary  movement,  further  progress  was 
marked  in  1819  by  the  organization  of  the  missionary  society,  which, 
having  primary  reference  to  home  work,  joined  with  that  also  the  for- 
eign field.  , 

At  the  close  of  the  centennial  year  of  American  Methodism,  the 
church  reported  25  colleges  and  theological  schools,  having  158  in- 
structors, 5,350  students,  about  $4,000,000  in  endowments  and  other 
property,  and  more  than  105,000  volumes  in  their  libraries ; and  also  77 
academies,  with  556  instructors  and  nearly  18,000  students  of  both 
sexes. 

lu  1828  the  Canada  conference  withdrew  and  became  a distinct 
church.  This  separation  was  regarded  by  both  sections  as  a matter  of 
necessity,  and  was  effected  without  any  interruption  of  fraternal  rela- 
tions between  them. 

As  at  the  end  of  the  century,  notwithstanding  its  losses,  it  con- 
tained more  than  a million  of  members,  the  hope  was  cherished  that 
not  less  than  twice  that  number  of  dollars  would  be  given  to  promote 
its  future  work.  The  expected  services  were  held  throughout  the 
church,  and  at  the  close  of  the  month  the  total  amount  contributed 
was  found  to  be  $8,709,500. 

Admission  of  lay  delegates  into  the  general  conference.  This  im- 
portant change  was  inaugurated  in  1872,  after  long  consideration 
throughout  the  church.  The  plan  adopted  provides  that  “the  minis* 
terial  and  lay  delegates  shall  sit  and  deliberate  together  as  one  body, 
but  they  shall  vote  separately  whenever  such  separate  vote  shall  be 
demanded  by  one-third  of  either  order;  and  in  such  cases  the  concur- 
rent vote  of  both  orders  shall  be  necessary  to  complete  an  action.’' 


REV.  WILLIAM  C.  WILBOR 

PLYMOUTH  M.  E.  CHURCH 


The  following'  figures  show  the  strength  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States  and  in  foreign  fields,  in  some  of 
its  main  points,  as  given  in  official  reports  for  1904: 

Home.  Foreign. 


Number  of  churches 27,685 

Value  of  churches  $133,361,819 

Number  of  Parsonages  12,025 

Value  of  Parsonages  $ 21,290,000 

Total  Indebtedness  $ 21,033,408 


Total  membership,  including  those  on  proba- 
tion   

Increase  in  membership  in  1903  in  U.  S 

Number  of  Sunday  Schools  

Number  of  Sunday  School  Officers  and  Teach- 
ers   

Number  of  Sunday  School  Scholars 

Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  raised. $ 

Woman’s  Home  Society  raised $ 

Received  from  Churches  for  Missions $ 

Received  from  Sunday  Schools  for  Mission.  . .$ 

Number  of  Bishops  

Number  of  Pastors 

Amount  paid  for  Conference  Claimants $ 

Amount  paid  for  salaries  of  Pastors,  Presiding 

Elders  and  Bishops $ 12,356,170 

Amount  paid  for  Current  Expenses,  Sexton, 

Fuel,  Sunday  schools,  etc $ 4,847,770 


3,135,831 

39,806 

31,674 

343,373 

2,725,421 

447,739 

332,819 

1,067,769 

481,290 

23 

17,561 

343,662 


744 

$3,139,881 

233 

$ 710,679 
$ 966,592 

121,024 

1,297 

6,245 
88,879 
$ 1,323 

$ 261 
$ 10,651 

$ 3,032 

7 

532 

$ 4,794 

$ 232,463 
$ 124,358 


Brief  History  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Grace  Church  is  located  on  Michigan  Street,  between  North  and 
South  Division  Streets,  and  was  dedicated  by  the  late  Bishop  Matthew 
Simpson,  June  2nd,  1855,  the  fiftieth  Anniversary  of  which  is  now  the 
occasion  of  these  services. 

Grace  Church  is  the  outgrowth  of  a considerable  number  of  Meth- 
odists settling  east  of  Main  Street,  about  1840  to  1844.  In  the  latter 
year  they,  with  some  members  from  the  old  Niagara  Street  Church,  or- 
ganized the  Swan  Street  M.  E.  Church  Society  on  October  11th,  1844. 
This  date  the  first  quarterly  Conference  of  the  New  Church  was  called 
to  meet  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  Niagara  Street  M.  E.  Church.  The 
Rev.  Glezen  Fillmore,  Presiding  Elder  of  Buffalo  District,  presided.  The 
minutes  of  the  Conference  are  carefully  recorded  and  state  that  the 
members  present  were  Rev.  Glezen  Fillmore,  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  John 
Dennis,  Pastor;  Daniel  M.  Vanderpool,  local  deacon;  Peter  Brower, 
George  Keech,  Benjamin  Gorham,  David  B.  Hull,  Asa  M.  Ray,  Charles 
Campbell,  William  Dodsworth,  H.  B.  Burt  and  Daniel  M.  Vanderpool, 
leaders. 


REV.  SYLVESTER  W.  LLOYD 
Ontario  Street  M.  E.  Church.  Former  Pastor  Grace,  1879 


The  above  trade-mark  is  a guarantee  of  excellence.  It  is  known 
in  every  state  of  the  Union.  The  factory  of  the  HEYWOOD  BOOT 
AND  SHOE  CO.  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  United  States. 

By  the  aid  of  modern  machinery  and  skilled  labor,  they  have  the 
reputation  of  producing  shoes  that  combine  both  style  and  economy. 

The  name  of  Samuel  R.  Heywood,  the  president  of  the  company, 
stands  for  honesty  and  good  workmanship  in  shoes. 

For  the  past  ten  years  they  have  maintained  a branch  store  in 
Buffalo,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Thomas  Coulson,  a man  of  large 
experience  in  the  retail  shoe  business. 

The  store  is  located  at  382  MAIN  STREET,  where  a large  and 
well  selected  stock  of  men’s  shoes  is  always  on  hand. 


THE  CORNER  BOOK  STORE 

We  wish  you  would  BEAR  IN  MIND 
when  you  are  in  need  of  a book  of  any 
kind,  or  the  latest  style  in  stationery,  the 
place  to  get  it  is  at 

HENRY  B.  BROWN  CO. 

BOOKSELLERS  ::  STATIONERS  ::  ENGRAVERS 

496  and  498  Main  Street,  Corner  Mohawk. 


KING  & EISELE 

WHOLESALE  MANUFACTURING  JEWELERS 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

Salesroom,  10-20  N.  DIVISION  STREET. 

Factory,  342-344  WASHINGTON  STREET. 


REV.  R.  F.  HURLBURT, 
Delaware  Avenue  M.  E.  Church. 


Stewards  were  elected  and  Henry  B.  Burt  was  appointed  delegate 
to  the  Stewards’  Convention  to  be  held  at  Bro.  Sybley’s,  Darien  Center, 
October  23rd,  1844,  at  one  o’clock.  Trustees  were  elected  as  follows: 
Benjamin  Gorham,  Francis  H.  Root,  William  Dodsworth,  Amasa  Joslyn, 
David  B.  Hull,  George  Keech  and  P.  L.  Sternberg.  The  Leaders  and 
Stewards  met  and  arranged  weekly  meetings.  A Love-feast  was  held 
November  17th,  1844,  at  which  Asa  M.  Ray  and  Ira  P.  Wheeler  acted 
as  door-keepers,  admission  then  being  by  ticket.  A committee  to  or- 
ganize a choir  was  appointed.  Religious  services  were  held  Thursday, 
December  9th,  on  public  thanksgiving  day. 

To  a large  extent  the  above  is  the  beginning  of  permanent  Method- 
ism in  Buffalo,  the  old  Niagara  Street  church  having  long  since  passed 
out  of  existence,  while  from  the  ranks  of  the  solid,  faithful  beginning 
and  character  of  the  men  who  started  Swan,  afterwards  Grace  Church, 
have  gone  forth  more  recruits  to  Methodism  than  from  any  other 
church  in  the  city.  , 

The  Rev.  John  Dennis  was  sent  by  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1844 
to  look  after  the  new  colony,  and  was  the  Pastor  in  charge  during  the 
organization  of  the  Society  and  the  Building  of  the  Swan  Street  Church 
on  a lot  purchased  by  the  Congregation,  corner  Swan  and  Michigan 
Streets.  The  church  was  dedicated  1845,  Rev.  Glezen  Fillmore,  presid- 
ing elder,  Rev.  J.  G.  Gulick  and  Joseph  Cross  officiating.  After  serving 
two  years,  the  pastor  reported  a membership  of  300 — a Sunday  School 
of  the  same  number  having  started  with  a membership  of  148  reported 
at  the  end  of  the  first  3 months’  service. 

In  1854,  the  Swan  Street  Church)  was  not  considered  adequate  for 
the  growing  society,  and  the  present  site  on  which  stands  Grace  Church 
was  purchased.  The  Building  was  completed  and  dedicated  free  from 
debt,  largely  through  the  generosity  of  the  late  Francis  H.  Root,  and  to 
the  credit  of  the  various  Boards  of  Trustees,  no  mortgage  indebtedness 
was  ever  placed  on  the  property.  Two  years  later  the  name  was 
changed  to  Grace  M.  E.  Church  Society,  and  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  name  “Swan  Street  Church”  pass- 
ing into  History.  Of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees,  the  late  William 
Dodsworth  was  the  last  to  pass  away,  only  two  of  the  first  members  of 
1844  are  still  living,  so  far  as  is  known.  Mrs.  Julia  Burt,  relict  of  H.  B. 
Burt,  one  of  the  first  Stewards,  and  after  61  years  still  a member  of 
Grace,  and  until  within  the  last  year,  was  a faithful  Sunday  School 
Teacher,  having  resigned  on  account  of  health,  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Husted,  now  a member  of  Central  Park  Church,  wife  of  the  late  J.  H. 
Husted,  a man  who  was  loving  and  gentle,  generous  and  of  incorrupti- 
ble integrity,  living  an  untarnished  Christian  life. 

The  Building  Committee  were  David  B.  Hull,  William  Dodsworth, 
Francis  H.  Root  and  P.  L.  Sternberg.  They  patterned,  as  far  as  loca- 
tion would  permit,  after  the  North  Presbyterian  Church,  then  on  Main 
Street,  and  the  Building  when  completed  was  pronounced  superior  to 


REV.  PRICE  E.  CROW, 
St.  Mark’s  M.  E.  Church. 


With  Best  Wishes 


MR,  and  MRS.  GEORGE  W.  CRIPPS 


Compliments  of  ... 


MRS.  BERTHA  E.  KASSING 


NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 


PETERSON’S  OINTMENT 


CURES 

ECZEMA,  BLIND,  BLEEDING  ITCHING  PILES 
AND  OLD  SORES  OF  LONG  STANDING. 


SOLD  BY  ALL  DRUGGISTS,  PRICE  25  CTS.,  or  sent  by  Mail  on  Receipt  of  Price. 


PETERSON  BROS.,  Chemists 


180  SENECA  STREET 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


CHARLES  O.  ROGERS  HARRY  E.  ROGERS 

. . . Compliments  of  . . . 

B.  D.  ROGERS’  SONS 


102  WEST  MARKET  STREET 


REV.  E,  E.  HELMS, 

Linwood  Avenue  M.  E.  Church,  33  W.  Utica  Street. 


any  Methodist  Church  then  in  Western  New  York. 

Rev.  Philo  E.  Brown  was  Pastor  during  the  building  and  dedica- 
tion, having  been  sent,  it  is  recorded,  chiefly  because  of  his  reputation 
in  church-building  enterprises. 

The  Congregation  grew  and  prospered  for  nearly  forty  years,  some 
of  the  best  men  of  the  Genesee  Conference  serving  as  pastors,  many  not- 
ed revivals  having  occurred,  commencing  with  the  Pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
John  Dennis,  following  the  latter  in  1846,  Rev.  Alpha  Wright,  Pastor 
noted  for  a fluent,  rapid  speaker,  as  well  as  piety.  It  was  during  his 
services  that  F.  H.  Root  joined  the  church.  In  1848  and  ’49,  Rev. 
James  M.  Fuller  served,  coming  from  the  Vermont  Conference.  He 
was  followed  by  Schuyler  Seager,  who  served  1850-1,  also  1863.  Then 
follows  Rev.  A.  D.  Wilbor,  1852-4  and  1859-60,  serving  the  church  sat- 
isfactorily and  well.  Born  in  1821,  died  on  January  28th,  1903,  aged  82, 
spending  over  sixty  years  of-  his  life  in  the  ministry. 

During  the  Pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  H.  De  Puy,  the  church  continued 
to  grow,  the  Sunday  School  reaching  four  hundred.  During  the  next 
two  years  a Revival  wave  swept  over  the  land,  adding  ninety  on  proba- 
tion. , 

The  Rev.  Sanford  Hunt  in  charge  says,  “A  more  harmonious  church 
could  not  be  desired,  and  at  the  end  of  his  two  years,  134  had  been  add- 
ed to  the  church  membership.”  Then  comes  Rev.  D.  D.  Lore,  1861-2. 
Rev.  J.  H.  Knowles  was  transferred  from  the  New  Jersey  Conference 
and  served  1864-6.  Rev.  George  P.  Porter  followed  and  served  1867-70. 
It  is  said  his  sermons  were  models  of  Logic  and  Eloquence.  Next  fol- 
lows Rev.  D.  H.  Muller,  1870-2,  in  whose  care  Grace  Church  saw  the 
zenith  of  its  prosperity.  His  pastorate  was  marked  by  a continuous  re- 
vival. It  was  during  his  second  appointment,  1876-79,  that  a great  re- 
vival, assisted  by  Maggie  Van  Cott,  took  place.  On  one  Sunday  after- 
noon, one  hundred  and  fifty  were  baptized  and  four  hundred  received 
on  probation.  It  was  during  his  time  that  the  Eagle  Street  Church  was 
started  from  “Grace,”  now  the  “Sentinel.”  Nearly  two  hundred  let- 
ters were  given  to  members  going  to  other  churches,  yet  a gain  in  Grace 
was  reported,  the  number  reported  to  the  Conference  of  1878  was  660. 

Dr.  Muller  had  great  faith  in  his  people  and  in  God,  and  his  work 
was  crowned  with  success.  During  the  terms  of  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Pad- 
dock,  1882-3,  and  Rev.  Ross  C.  Houghton,  began  the  emigration  to  the 
West  Side  churches,  which  became  so  great  from  1885  to  1900,  that 
scarcely  twenty  members  of  their  time  now  remain.  Two  hundred  con- 
versions were  reported,  and  ninety-seven  received  in  full  membership 
during  the  term  of  the  latter. 

In  1879,  Rev.  S.  W.  Lloyd  became  the  Pastor.  His  work  was  hard, 
following  the  large  revivals,  and  the  tide  of  moving  to  other  parts  of 
the  city  having  fully  set  in.  He  served  the  church  with  fidelity  and  left 
it  in  a more  united  state,  than  when  he  came, — followed  by  Dr.  Robert 
M.  Stratton,  in  whose  time  the  drift  up-town  was  still  more  felt  in  all 


REV.  F.  H.  COMAN, 
Pastor  of  Asbury  M.  E.  Church. 


] 

ESTABLISHED  1889. 

H.  C.  BANGERT 

Q=D 

HIGH-GRADE 

..BUTTER.. 

THE  FINEST  SOLD  IN  BUFFALO 


CnD 


Creameries  at  Elginville,  III.,  and  Manchester,  Michigan. 


33-34-35-36  Clinton  Market 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


I 


\ 


REV.  SAMUEL  L.  BEILER, 
Richmond  Avenue  M.  E.  Church, 


departments  of  the  church,  the  pulpit  was  ably  maintained,  but  a loss 
in  membership  was  inevitable.  . 

Then  Dr.  J.  B.  Wentworth,  as  loyal  a soldier  as  Grant,  of  the  sound- 
est Theology,  sternly  honest,  full  of  kindness  of  heart  and  a never  fail* 
ing  friend,  followed,  for  two  years  serving  faithful  and  acceptable. 

In  the  succeeding  three  years,  1886-9,  the  continued  depletion 
forced  upon  the  attention  of  the  Pastor  and  official  Board  questions  of 
the  most  serious  character  as  to  financial  support,  every  member  of  any 
considerable  means  seemed  to  move  away,  their  homes  either  being  sold 
or  rented  to  foreigners  and  strangers,  and  even  those  strangers,  ‘ ‘ a not- 
able one  of  whom  was  a boy  of  17  years  from  Berlin,  Ont.,”  of  our  de- 
nomination remaining  but  a short  time,  soon  finding  permanent  homes 
in  other  parts.  It  was  no  fault  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  T.  Gracey  that  no  gain 
was  reported  in  his  time.  He  served  acceptably  and  faithful. 

In  1890-2,  during  the  time  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Bell,  the  pew 
renting  system  was  abolished  and  free  seats  were  announced,  making 
the  church  in  fact  the  strangers’  church,  and  under  Mr.  Bell’s  hard 
work,  the  elements  were  stirred  up  and  the  strangers  came — one  of 
them  being  Byron  H.  Stauffer,  then  a boy  of  about  twenty  years — now 
the  Pastor  of  Riverside  Church. 

Mr.  Bell ’s  service  was  successful  from  the  first,  on  his  arrival  find- 
ing 262  members  and  415  when  he  left,  showing  to  Buffalo  Methodism 
the  importance  of  keeping  the  Gates  of  Grace  wide  open  and  the  pulpit 
ably  filled,  not  only  for  Grace  Church,  but  for  the  whole  city.  Rev. 
I.  T.  Walker  next  served  three  years,  1892-5.  Conversions  and  new 
members  came  continually,  but  not  fast  enough  to  off-set  the  letters  of 
withdrawal,  and  the  same  conditions  continued  during  the  Pastorate  of 
Rev.  J.  B.  Sparrow.  He  was  in  feeble  health  during  the  entire  two 
years,  and  the  members  themselves  being  comparative  strangers,  but 
few  were  added  and  many  removals.  Mr.  Sparrow  was  beloved  by  all. 
A steadfast  friend  and  faithful  worker  as  long  as  health  permitted.  He 
died  a few  months  after  leaving  the  charge. 

During  the  six  years  from  1897-1903,  remarkable  changes  took 
place  in  Grace  Church.  Four  hundred  withdrawal  letters  were  given 
in  that  time  to  members,  mostly  going  to  other  churches  in  the  city — 
yet  the  membership  doubled.  The  old  brick  sewers  were  removed,  re- 
placed by  iron,  new  plumbing,  new  lighting,  the  entire  church  newly 
decorated  inside — extensive  repairs  in  the  Sunday  School  room  and 
basement,  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,600,  and  a new  pipe  organ  costing, 
with  expense  of  necessary  changes,  also  about  $3,600;  making  a total 
extra  outlay  of  $7,200  in  the  six  years.  About  six  hundred  were  re- 
ceived into  the  church  during  these  6 years,  yet  the  present  membership 
is  a little  over  four  hundred.  The  above  is  due  to  the  faithful,  intelli- 
gent and  hard  work  of  the  Rev.  Byron  H.  Stauffer,  who  came  to  this 
city  a stranger  and  to  the  church  in  the  time  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  E. 
Bell. 


REV.  AMERON  F.  COLBURN, 
Sentinel  M.  E.  Church. 


May  the  time  soon  come  when  this  Gateway  for  Methodists  and 
strangers  entering  the  city  be  strengthened  so  that  it  can  more  fully 
welcome  the  stranger  within  its  doors;  be  a church  Home  for  new  ar- 
rivals to  the  city  in  the  so-called  down  town  districts ; thereby  save 
many  from  falling  by  the  wayside  and  continue  to  be  able  to  give  the 
more  welcome  hand  to  strangers  as  they  pass  through  her  portals  to 
permanent  locations  in  all  parts  of  the  city,  as  thousands  have  gone  be- 
fore. 

Our  present  Pastor,  the  Rev.  W.  A.  V.  E.  Pattyson,  is  working  he- 
roically to  maintain  the  standard  of  his  predecessors,  and  is  enthusi- 
astic that  this,  “The  Jubilee  Year,”  will  be  one  of  the  most  successful  in 
its  history. 

In  this  souvenir  will  be  found  illustrations  of  all  except  three  of  the 
former  Pastors  of  Grace  Church,  and  all  of  the  present  city  pastors. 

W.  COULSON, 

Clerk  of  the  Trustee  Board. 


GRACE! 

(Contributed  by  Rev.  D.  H.  Muller,  a former  Pastor  of  Grace.) 

Beauty  and  Truth  unite  in  this  name. 

“Who  hath  not  ow’nd 

With  rapture  smitten  frame, 

The  power  of  Grace, 

The  magic  of  a name.” 

In  the  chariot  of  Grace  we  are  all  borne  onward. 

Beyond  the  Greeks  comes  to  us  “Grace.”  The  “Krats”  were 
horses  that  drew  the  sun  around  the  earth.  They  were  so  silent,  gen- 
erous and  rich  toward  all  life,  that  soon  the  word  “Krats”  began  to 
stand  for  human  beauty  of  form  and  mind.  Thus  the  Greeks  and 
Latins  used  the  words  as  implying  beauty  of  body  and  soul,  and 
“Krats”  became  grace.  God  was  benevolent.  He  was  gentle  as  a 
sunbeam.  Man  was  saved  not  by  his  own  perfections,  but  by  God’s 
grace.  Salvation  was  to  come  in  an  empire  of  benevolence.  How 
seldom  is  the  word  found  in  the  Old  Testament.  “The  law  came  to 
Moses,  but  grace  and  truth  through  Jesus  Christ.”  There  was  a little 
grace  in  the  Mosaic  law.  Some  grapes  were  to  be  left  on  the  vines 
for  the  poor;  some  grains  of  wheat  for  the  needy;  youths  were  for- 
bidden to  make  sport  of  the  deaf  and  blind. 

Christ  came  to  make  more  visible  to  man  the  grand  attributes  of 
all  rational  life.  Under  this  growing  grace  states  are  changing  their 
laws,  society  its  morals  and  manners  and  man  his  standard  of  con- 
duct. To  be  gracious  to  the  unfortunate;  to  all  forms  of  honest  opin- 
ion; to  be  “transient  in  enmities,  and  unchanging  only  in  friend- 
ship ; ” to  make  it  shine  upon  all  dumb  animals.  Oh,  what  a destiny  for 
the  human  heart. 

All  arts,  painting,  sculpture,  architecture  and  music  are  only  the 


REV.  W.  R.  PIERCE, 

Pastor  Seneca  Street  M.  E.  Church. 


FILLMORE  GLEZEN,  D.  D. 

was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  Dec.  22,  1789,  and  died  in  Clarence,  N.  Y.  Jan. 
26,  1875.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1809,  and  after  having  served  nine 
years  as  a local  preacher  he  was  admitted,  in  1818,  into  the  Genesee  Confer- 
ence, and  was  sent  to  Buffalo.  He  found  the  city  without  any  church 
building,  but  succeeded  in  erecting  a small  edifice  25  by  35  feet,  and  at  the 
end  of  two  years  reported  82  members.  He  was  then  appointed  to  the  Erie 
district,  which  embraced  all  the  territory  from  Lake  Ontario  to  Meadville. 
Under  his  supervision  Rochester  was  favored  with  a remarkable  revival,  and 
thus  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  church  in  that  city.  He  was  appointed 
four  times  as  pastor  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  and  twenty-seven  years  he  served 
as  presiding  elder.  For  fifty-six  years  he  was  a member  of  Conference  and 
never  missed  a session.  When  he  asked  for  a superannuated  relation  he  said, 
“ This  is  the  hardest  appoiniment  I ever  received.”  He  took  an  active  part 
in  establishing  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  and  was  four 
times  chosen  as  delegate  to  the  General  Conference.  He  was  an  earnest  de- 
voted, successful  minister,  and  was  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of 
thousands. 


REV.  HERMAN  H.  DOWNEY, 
Northampton  M.  E.  Church. 


grace  of  the  mind  asking  material  things  to  become  its  language.  It 
is  the  effort  of  the  mind  to  utter  its  divine  peace  and  express  its  at- 
tachment to  immortality.  Not  from  God’s  power  and  wisdom  springs 
the  hope  of  another  life,  but  from  God’s  grace. 

The  Father  who  turns  the  air  into  music,  who  paints  the  clouds 
in  the  evening,  who  orders  the  plants  to  blossom,  who  pours  beauty 
into  the  human  soul  until  it  overflows  in  art,  literature  and  religion; 
and  changes  a desert  into  a paradise,  this  God  will  make  the  death- 
bed a place  where  the  grace  of  earth  is  changed  for  the  more  spot- 
less beauty  of  some  other  land.  The  history  of  grace  written  out  in 
our  world,  assures  us  of  a world,  a land,  a life  more  deeply  marked, 
more  grandly  ornamented,  more  richly  endowed  by  God’s  grace. 

For  fifty  years  the  outward  form  of  Grace  Church  has  been 
a silent  witness  of  these  inward  truths.  Its  spire  points  to  the  heavens 
whence  the  grace  of  salvation  flows.  At  its  altars  multitudes  have 
drank  at  this  fountain  of  life.  Within  its  walls  converts  have  matured 
into  saints.  Its  portals  have  swung  inward  for  the  weary,  tempted 
and  tried,  and  swung  outward  toward  thrones  and  crowns  for  those 
who  have  “died  in  the  Lord.” 

From  its  pulpit  the  “voice  of  free  grace  and  full  salvation,”  has 
sounded. 

Heaven  and  earth  gather  at  this  anniversary.  Above  they  cry; 
“This  and  that  one  was  born  in  her!”  below  they  sing,  “one  family 
of  the  living  God.  They  salute  us,  inspire  us,  ensphere  us  with  the 
glory  that  surrounds  them. 

“Friends  fondly  cherished 
Have  passed  on  before ; 

Waiting  they  watch  us, 

Approaching  that  shore.” 

May  Grace  ever  be  true  to  her  name  ; be  grateful  for  her- past, 
and  be  hopeful  that  her  future  may  be  more  glorious  than  in  the  years 
gone. 


REV.  CONRAD  HOOKER, 
Lovejoy  Street  M.  E.  Church. 


GEORGE  L.  FAYFIELD 


George  L.  Fayfield  will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  active  and 
zealous  members  of  Grace  Church,  more  than  a quarter  of  a century 
ago.  A period  during  which  the  church  reached  the  zenith  of  its  pros- 
perity. 

He  was  converted  in  1854  at  St.  Mark’s  Methodist  Church  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Depew.  He  united  with  the  church  and 
remained  there  until  1870,  in  which  year  he  was  received  into  Grace 
Church  by  letter;  and  thereafter  was  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the 
various  activities  of  the  church  and  Sunday  School  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  taught,  for  many  years,  a young  men’s  class  in  the  Sab- 
bath School.  One  of  his  acts  as  trustee,  was  the  alterations  that  made 
the  present  church  parlors.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Young 
Men’s  Association,  who,  in  the  early  seventies,  were  a power  in  the  re- 
vival work  of  the  church.  He  also  gave  valuable  aid  to  the  Eagle 
Street  M.  E.  Church  that  was  organized  chiefly  through  the  Young 
Men’s  Association  and  sustained  by  them  in  its  early  days. 

For  several  years  preceding  his  decease,  he  was  an  ardent  mem- 
ber of  the  Band  of  Christian  Workers;  a small  company  of  half  a 
dozen  enthusiastic  laymen,  who  responded  to  all  invitations  to  hold 
Gospel  services;  whether  in  poor  communions  lacking  a pastor,  or  in 
the  County  House,  Penitentiary,  or  slums.  He  always  had  a warm  and 
kindly  heart  for  a fellow  brother,  and  especially  for  the  stranger 
within  the  gates;  and  the  hospitality  of  his  home  was  ever  warmly 
extended  to  fellow  worshippers. 

His  death  occurred  in  September,  1889.  He  left,  surviving  him, 
his  widow,  Harriet  N.  Fayfield,  and  two  sons,  George  G.  and  Rob- 
ert C. 


\ 


REV.  WALTER  RAYMOND  BROWN, 
Central  Park  M.  E.  Church. 


THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 

Meets  at  12,  Noon. 

OFFICERS. 

Superintendent HARRY  A.  HENDLER 

Assistant  Superintendent WILLIAM  HARRINGTON 

Secretary E.  H.  WILDRICK 

Assistant  Secretary WILLIAM  G.  CARTER 

Treasurer J.  L.  ROACH 

Librarian JOHN  WESTFALL 

Pianist LOTTIE  E.  ELMER 

Assistant  Pianist EDNA  VO  AS 

Chorister B.  E.  COULTES 

Superintendent  of  Pink  Toe  Department MRS.  H.  A.  HENDLER 

TEACHERS. 

Frank  S.  Hervey  Mrs.  F.  A.  Johnston 

W.  S.  Hoffman  Charles  T.  Gair 

Mrs.  W.  A.  V.  E.  Pattyson  Lulu  Ellis 

Mrs.  E.  Alexander  Miss  Jessie  Anderson 

Mr.  E.  Krause  Mrs.  Barden 

Mrs.  Westfall  Miss  M.  Grube 

Mrs.  F.  Goodley  Mrs.  C.  Foster 

Percy  Pickard  Miss  Jennie  Ellis 

LADIES’  AID  SOCIETY. 

President MRS.  W.  J.  WILSON 

First  Vice-President MRS.  HABER 

Secretary MRS.  HUMPHREY 

Treasurer MRS.  SCUTT 

President  of  the  Work  Committee MRS.  JAMES  CUPPS 

Women’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

President MRS.  J.  WESTFALL 

First  Vice-President MRS.  F.  JOHNSTON 

Second  Vice-President MRS.  A.  TALLMAN 

Secretary MRS.  SCUTT 

Treasurer MRS.  MILLER 

OFFICIARY. 

Presiding  Bishop DANIEL  A.  GOODSELL 

Residing  Bishop JOSEPH  BERRY 

Presiding  Elder WARD  PLATT 

Pastor W.  A.  V.  E.  PATTYSON 

Local  Preachers. 

GEORGE  VO  AS 547  South  Division  Street 

WILLIAM  HARRINGTON 286  Myrtle  Avenue 


REV.  JOHN  W.  McGAVERN, 
Humboldt  Parkway  M.  E.  Church. 


Trustees. 


H.  MESSERSMITH. .. 
WILLIAM  COULSON 

R,  OLIVEY 

S.  P.  GREEN 
J.  G.  CUPPS 

I.  STUR 


President 

Secretary 

Treasurer 

DR.  J.  M.  BURKE 
F.  A.  JOHNSTON 

J.  L.  ROACH 


WILLIAM  COULSON.  . . 

JOHN  L.  ROACH 

CHARLES  H.  SCUTT.  . . 

JOHN  SIEBERT 

ALVAH  H..  JENNINGS.  . 
CHARLES  W.  DERR,  . . . 

J.  J.  SHAFFER 

F.  A.  JOHNSTON 

WILLIAM  HOFFMAN.  . 
WILLIAM  ERRINGTON 

GEORGE  CRIPPS 

ISAAC  STUR 

F.  H.  JOLINSTON 


Stewards. 

. . . .' 142  Seneca  Street 

289  Bryant  Street 

35  Milnor  Street 

156  Lutheran  Street 

235  Connecticut  Street 

278  North  Division  Street 

118  Peabody  Street 

354  South  Division  Street 

420  Michigan  Street 

. 295  Kingston  Place 

277  North  Division  Street 

.3375  Michigan  Street 

100  Fillmore  Avenue 


Class  Leaders. 


JAMES  G.  CUPPS.  . . 
BASIL  COULTES.  . . 
WILLIAM  GRAY.  ... 
FRANK  S.  HERVEY 
CHARLES  GAIR.  ..  . 
GEORGE  VOAS  .... 
FRANK  ROBSON  . . . 
S.  P.  GREENE 


27  Spruce 

267  North  Division 

666  Grant 

472  Pearl 

511  Ellicott 

.547  South  Division 

9 Milnor 

.72  Pine 


Street 

Street 

Street 

Street 

Street 

Street 

Street 

Street 


Sunday  School  Superintendent. 

HARRY  HENDLER 511  Ellicott  Street 

Epworth  League  President. 

EDGAR  LI.  WIEDRICK 214  North  Division  Street 

Official  Board. 

Composed  of  all  the  above. 


Chairman REV.  W.  A.  V.  E.  PATTYSON 

Recording  Steward JOHN  L.  ROACH 

Financial  Secretary MRS.  CHARLES  SCUTT 

Treasurer WILLIAM  COULSON 


REV.  EDWARD  C.  TOY, 
Kensington  M.  E.  Church. 


STANDING  SERVICES  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


Sunday — 

9.30  A.  M.  Class  Meeting.  Leader,  James  Cupps. 

10.30  A.M.  Morning  Public  Worship. 

12  Noon.  Sunday  School. 

3 P.M.  Jail  Meeting. 

Epworth  League  Cottage  Meetings. 

3.30  P.  M.  Junior  League.  Mrs.  Pattyson,  Supt. 

6.30  P.  M.  Epworth  League  Meeting. 

7.30  P.  M.  Evening  Public  Worship. 

Monday— 7.45  P.  M. 

First  Monday  (each  month) — Official  Board  Meeting. 
Second  Monday — Board  of  Trustees. 

Third  Monday — Sunday  School  Board. 

Fourth  Monday — Epworth  League  Business  Meeting. 
Tuesday— 7.45  P.  M. 

Second  and  Fourth  Tuesdays — Brotherhood  of  St.  Paul. 
Third  Tuesday — Class  Social  and  Business  Meeting  of 
Class. 

Wednesday — 7.45  P.  M. 

Regular  Weekly  Prayer  and  Praise  Service. 

Thursday — 2 P.  M. 

Ladies’  Aid  Society. 

Friday— 7.45  P.  M. 

Choir  Rehearsal. 


Mizpah 


(Contributed  by  the  Rev.  B.  H.  Stauffer.) 

My  first  visit  to  Grace  Church  was  as  a 17-year-old  youth. 

Unlike  the  story  of  Dick  Whittington  and  his  cat,  the  church 
bell,  which  was  just  ringing  as  I walked  into  the  vestibule,  did  not  tell 
me  that  within  ten  years  I was  myself  to  be  pastor  of  the  church  I 
was  at  that  moment  timidly  entering. 

Dr.  Gracey  preached  the  sermon  and  I remember  that  he  described 
the  March  of  Christ  through  the  Earth,  as  “grander  than  Hannibal’s 
march  into  Italy  and  more  glorious  than  Sherman’s  march  to  the 
Sea.” 

Within  two  years,  I once  more  found  myself  in  Buffalo,  and  was 
drawn  to  Grace  Church  again,  principally  because  the  Rev.  Thomas 
E.  Bell  had,  the  week  before,  given  great  comfort  at  the  funeral  of  my 
brother.  Where  we  find  solace  we  are  apt  to  look  for  it  again.  I 
rather  think  he  preached  that  morning  on  the  words,  “Fear  thou  not, 
for  I am  with  thee.”  I remember  that  he  expressed  the  hope  that 
sinners  might  be  converted  unto  God  at  each  service,  and  a volley  of 
“Amens”  greeted  the  remark. 

I was  soon  at  home.  Brother  Bell  had  a way  of  setting  people  to 
work,  and  before  I knew  it,  I was  singing  in  the  choir.  Tell  it  not  in 


REV.  C.  G.  LOWELL, 
Sumner  Place  M.  E.  Church. 


Gath;  publish  it  not  in  Askelon;  but  within  a month  I was  leading  in 
the  choir  loft.  Just  what  kind  of  singing  we  had  I must  allow  Brother 
Bell  to  tell  you — he  has  always  been  indulgently  kind  to  me. 

Brother  Wickson,  Sr.,  was  the  organist,  but  his  place  was  just 
then  taken  by  his  son,  Clarence  Wickson,  now  a worker  in  Richmond 
Church,  and  well  known  to  all  Grace  Church  people,  for  I dare  not  say 
how  many  years  back.  When  nearly  eight  years  later,  I stepped  into 
the  pulpit  to  preach  my  first  sermon  as  pastor,  I felt  at  home  when 
I saw  that  Clarence  Wickson  was  at  the  organ. 

I left  Buffalo  at  the  close  of  Brother  Bell’s  first  year,  but  the  six 
months  spent  with  him  (from  March  to  October,  1890)  gave  me  many 
a lesson  in  evangelistic  work,  which  stood  me  in  good  stead  when  1 
began  my  ministry  three  years  later. 

One  evening  in  August,  1897,  I had  a visitor  at  the  Lovejoy  Street 
parsonage.  He  was  a tall,  well  built  fellow  and  said  his  name  was 
Hervey.  He  was  a member  of  the  pulpit  committee  of  Grace  Church, 
and  came  to  see  whether  I would  be  moving  next  Conference ! I 
moved,  and  for  six  years  Frank  Hervey  stood  by  the  church  and  its 
verdant  pastor.  He  is  still  standing  by  old  Grace  and  its  present 
minister. 

My  first  winter’s  work  stands  before  my  mind  more  prominently 
than  any  of  the  five  that  followed.  The  names  of  the  converts  and 
probationers  I can  see  on  the  church  record  now.  Theodore  Woolley, 
now  of  Linwood  Church,  was  the  first  probationer  enrolled,  and  we 
had  quite  a list.  We  held  a fair  in  April,  and  Mrs.  Coulson  as  treas- 
urer reported  $660  as  the  net  proceeds.  , 

The  Sunday  evening  services  were  my  delight,  and  many  a happy 
hour  did  we  spend  in  the  grand,  old  lecture  room.  In  1899  we  reno- 
vated the  Church,  spending  some  $3,000  in  putting  in  new  floors, 
plumbing,  carpets,  frescoing,  etc.  The  people  had  a mind  to  work. 
Two  years  later,  they  undertook  the  work  of  putting  in  a new  pipe 
organ,  and  the  subscription  book,  which  I still  treasure,  contains  over 
400  names  of  givers. 

I have  many  happy  memories  of  days  in  Church  and  parsonage, 
and  recall  many  an  incident  of  a pastorate  which  was  as  beneficial  as 
a college  course,  in  experience  at  least,  and  which  would  never  have 
been  begun  but  for  the  tenacity  of  Presiding  Elder  Philip  S.  Merrill, 
whose  faith  in  me,  undeserved  I fear,  brought  about  my  appointment. 

The  work  of  Grace  Church  is  not  yet  finished.  She  still  has  a 
glorious  mission.  The  grand  people  who  are  helping  to  sustain  her 
services  are  to  be  congratulated  on  doing  so  noble  a work.  May  the 
light  hold  out  to  burn,  as  a welcome  to  many  a lonely  one. 


REV.  E.  E.  FAIRCHILD, 
Ripley  Memorial  M.  E.  Church. 


BOYHOOD  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GRACE  CHURCH. 


My  father,  the  Rev.  Albert  D.  Wilbor,  .was  appointed  pastor  of 
Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  the  Genesee  Conference  held  at 
Perry,  N.  Y.,  October  17th,  1859.  It  was  a stormy  session,  lasting  sev- 
enteen days,  and  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of  four  ministers  for  con- 
tumacy. They  immediately  called  a convention  in  Albion  and 
organized  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Grace  Church  was  nearly  new  then  and  had  cost  $30,000.  It  had 
290  members  and  had  raised  the  previous  year  $1,414  for  pastoral 
support,  and  for  benevolence.  It  was  the  strongest  of  the  six  Methodist 
Churches  in  the  city  and  retained  that  rank  for  decades.  The  parson- 
age was  the  brick  house  directly  opposite  the  church.  From  its  win- 
dows I saw,  with  wondering  eyes,  the  torchlight  processions  of  the 
“ Wide-a-wakes”  as  they  tramped  by  bearing  on  their  shoulders  the 
axes,  mauls  and  split-rails,  emblems  of  Abraham  Lincoln’s  apprentice- 
ship for  the  presidency.  I saw  some  of  the  same  men  a few  months 
later,  in  new  uniforms  of  blue,  march  to  the  trains  for  fields  of  South- 
ern conflict.  I saw  some  of  them  when  they  returned,  bearded,  bronzed, 
with  faded  garments  and  broken  ranks,  the  missing  left  behind  in 
soldiers’  graves. 

The  boys’  military  company,  of  which  I was  a private,  saluted 
Mr.  Lincoln  as  he  passed  through  Main  Street,  giving  him  “three 
hearty  cheers  and  a tiger,”  which  caused  him  to  rise  in  his  carriage 
and  give  us  a smile  and  a courtly  wave  of  his  hand  and  hat.  I remem- 
ber the  doleful  tones  of  the  old  colored  crier,  as,  with  bell  in  hand,  he 
patrolled  the  streets  searching  for  lost  children.  I shall  never  forget 
many  of  the  prominent  families  of  both  Swan  Street  and  Grace 
Churches  who  were  active  in  the  religious  life  of  the  city  at  that  time. 
Among  them  were  Henry  B.  Burt  and  wife  and  John  H.  Husted  and 
family;  David  E.  Brown,  Robert  and  Mrs.  Barnard,  Dorcas  Bowen, 
Thomas  Coatsworth,  John  Caudell,  later  the  patron  saint  of  Plymouth 
Church;  A.  M.  Crooks,  O.  H.  Draper,  William  Dodsworth,  Richard 
Edmunds,  John  C.  Jewett,  Francis  H.  Root.  James  S.  Lyon,  W.  W. 
Mason,  Mrs.  Nicholson,  C.  G.  Playter,  B.  D.  Rogers,  and  their  families: 
and  the  Sternbergs  and  Taggerts  and  a host  of  others  too  numerous 
to  name. 

Mrs.  Burt,  Mrs.  Husted  and  Mr.  Edmunds  and  others  survive  to 
grace  this  Jubilee  with  the  benediction  of  their  nresence.  The  Session 
of  the  General  Conference  in  Buffalo  in  1860  is  an  historical  incident 
of  importance,  and  is  worth  repeating  in  1908. 

Most  important  of  the  influences  of  that  time  upon  my  life  was 
the  positive  religious  impressions  Grace  Church  and  God’s  grace  made 
on  my  life  in  that  plastic  period  of  childhood. 

My  faithful  friend  from  infancy.  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Burt,  led  me  every 
Sunday  morning  to  the  Class  meeting,  of  which  her  husband  was 


I...'  J.  H.  GAIL 

Memoir. 

John  Henry  Gail  was  born  at  Eden,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  August  1,  1831. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Brown,  June  29,  1851,  in  Aurora,  N.  Y.  He 
began  his  active  religious  life  in  a revival  at  West  Falls,  in  the  year  1858, 
conducted  by  the  Bev.  W.  C.  Keddall,  and  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  In  1864  Mr.  Gail  moved  to  Buffalo  and  engaged  in  the 
fruit  and  produce  business  on  Michigan  Street,  which  he  continued  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

He  united  with  Grace  Methedist  Episcopal  Church,  Buffalo,  April  12,  1865. 
He  was  an  active  and  useful  member  and  office  bearer  there  until  December 
12,  1891,  when  he  transferred  his  membership  to  Plymouth  Church,  where  he 
has  ever  since  been  a prominent  and  influential  worker.  For  many  years, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
church  to  which  he  belonged. 

His  death  occured  at  Pasadena,  Cal.,  May  13,  1904.  Mr.  Gail  is  survived 
by  a wife  and  two  children,  A.  D.  Gail  and  H.  M.  Gail  of  this  city. 


leader.  There  I felt  the  power  of  the  Spirit  in  testimony  and  song. 
And  in  the  public  worship  of  the  Sanctuary,  which  followed,  the  quiet 
solemnity  of  the  service  made  me  feel  that  the  Lord  was  in  His  holy 
temple. 

We  learned  by  heart  and  recited  every  week,  in  the  Sunday  School, 
seven  verses  from  the  Bible,  and  on  Saturday  afternoons,  in  the  base- 
ment, we  recited  the  Catechism.  The  Word  of  life,  hidden  in  my  heart 
then,  is  with  me  now.  This  joyous  golden  Jubilee  inspires  every 
disciple  of  Christ  to  be  faithful  to  every  duty.  How  great  is  the  num- 
ber who  have  been  helped  by  this  Church  in  a half  century.  What  a 
great  procession  of  saints  have  passed  through  the  portals  of  Grace 
Church  up  to  the  pearly  gates  of  the  New  Jerusalem.  Part  of  the  host 
have  crossed  before  and  part  are  crossing  now.  The  great  majority 
of  the  pastors  and  people  of  this  church’s  congregation  are  now  members 
of  the  church  triumphant,  which  is  without  fault  before  the  throne 
of  God.  WILLIAM  C.  WILBOR. 


MRS.  MARGARET  HUSTED  MRS.  JULIA  BURT 

The  above  illustrations  are  of  the  only  two  surviving  members  of  the  old 
Swan  Street  Church,  so  far  as  is  known;  one,  Mrs.  Burt,  being  still 
a member  after  61  years,  and  until  the  past  few  months 
was  a Sunday  School  teacher.  Mrs.  Husted  is  now 
a member  of  the  Central  Park  Church. 


REV.  F.  J.  CHASE,  D.  D. 

Normal  Park  M.  E.  Church. 

The  Normal  Park  M.  E.  Church  is  about  20  years  old,  and  is,  therefore, 
one  of  the  younger  churches  of  the  city.  It  is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Nor- 
mal Avenue  and  Hampshire  St.,  on  the  West  Side,  and  was  started  by 
Plymouth  Church.  The  membership  is  about  300,  and  constantly  growing. 
The  present  pastorate  began  last  fall,  and  during  the  last  few  months  the 
church  has  been  redecorated  throughout,  and  painted  outside  and  in  as  well 
as  the  parsonage.  It  is  one  of  the  attractive  places  of  worship  and  the  pastor 
ministers  to  large  congregations. 


i 


WM.  BARKER 

This  is  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Barker,  by 
their  daughter,  Emma  Barker. 

Mr.  Barker  was  born  in  England  March  17,  1818,  and  died  December 
31,  1884,  aged  77  years  and  10  months. 

He,  with  his  wife  Lydia,  joined  Grace  M.  E.  Church  in  1872,  to  which 
they  remained  faithful  until  they  removed  to  the  West  Side,  and  joining 
Plymouth  Avenue  M.  E.  Church.  He  served  many  years  as  president  of  the 
Trustee  Board,  ever  an  earnest  worker  and  a liberal  and  cheerful  giver. 
None  were  missed  from  old  Grace  M.  E.  Church  more  than  he.  A man 
absolutely  without  deception  in  any  form,  possessed  of  sterling  honesty,  a 
true  friend. 


REV.  D.  A.  PARCELLS, 
Woodside  M.  E.  Church. 


TI1E  PLAYTER  FAMILY 


My  contributions  to  this  volume  have  been  confined  to  descrip- 
tions of  families  who  were  identified  with  both  Swan  Street  and 
Grace  churches,  and  who,  either  themselves  or  their  children,  are 
now  prominent  in  Buffalo  Methodism. 

One  of  the  most  influential  laymen  in  Buffalo  in  1860-61  was 
Charles  G.  Playter.  He  held  a responsible  position  in  the  firm  of 
Pratt  & Co.,  hardware  merchants,  a corporation  still  in  business  in 
Buffalo.  His  comprehensive  acquaintance  with  all  the  details  of  the 
business,  his  unwavering  fidelity  and  perfect  integrity  made  him 
almost  indispensible  in  their  extensive  enterprise.  Mr.  Playter  was 
equally  prominent  and  effective  in  the  church.  He  discharged  the 
duties  of  trustee,  class  leader  and  Sunday  school  superintendent  with 
dignified  deportment,  ready  sympathy  and  depth  and  ripeness  of 
Christian  experience.  He  was  equally  eminent  in  his  personal  and 
home  life.  The  power  and  influence  which  he  displayed  in  the  domestic 
circle  best  evinced  the  refinement  and  affection  which  was  conspicu- 
ous in  his  intercourse  with  the  members  of  his  family. 

At  the  early  age  of  47,  after  an  illness  of  but  one  week,  he  was 
taken  away,  leaving  the  church,  his  wife  and  son  and  daughter  to 
lament  his  untimely  death.  His  pastor,  Rev.  A.  D.  Wilbor,  wrote  in 
his  journal : 

“Dear  Brother,  farewell!  I will  try  to  meet  thee  in  heaven. 
Brother  Playter  was  a dear  friend,  a true  Christian,  a meek  and 
quiet  spirit.  Who  can  take  his  place?” 

The  Buffalo  Christian  Advocate  editorially  said : 

“He  was  on£  of  the  favored  few  of  this  world  whose  whole  life 
— domestic,  social,  business  and  religious — is  without  a murmur  and 
without  a fault.  No  one  ever  knew  him  who  did  not  admire  the 
gentleness  of  his  spirit,  the  firmness  of  his  integrity  and  the  unaf- 
fected purity  and  usefulness  of  his  piety.  His  memory  is  blessed.” 
Mrs.  Playter  was  the  equal  of  her  husband  in  life  and  character. 
Soon  after  his  death  she  was  attacked  with  rheumatism  and  was 
seriously  crippled  for  many  years.  But  pain,  vigils  and  helplessness 
could  not  daunt  her  heroic  and  cheerful  nature,  nor  cloud  for  one 
moment  her  vivacious  and  hopeful  soul.  Her  devoted  daughter, 
Fanny,  the  widow  of  the  late  Charles  A.  Sweet,  who  for  many  years 
was  an  important  factor  in  the  commercial  and  religious  life  of  the 
city,  gave  her  time,  strength  and  love  to  her  invalid  mother.  She 
received  as  the  inevitable  compensation  of  untiring  and  unselfish 
service,  a noble,  well  developed,  philanthropic  character,  which  has 
largely  enriched  her  own  home  circle  and  the  Delaware  Avenue 
church,  of  which  she  is  a member. 

Members  change  and  pass  away,  the  church  lives  on.  The  work- 
ers finish  their  labor  and  pass  to  their  reward,  and  others  take 
their  places,  bear  their  burdens  and  thus  develop  character  and 
sainthood.  Giving  is  living.  Serving  is  deserving. 

WILLIAM  C.  WILBOR. 


REV.  JOSEPH  PACIARELLI, 
Italian  Mission. 


1 


COLLINS’  BREAD 

57757 


RED,  WHITE  AND  BLUE  LABEL 


AT  ALL  GROCERS 


COLLINS’  BAKING  CO. 


4* 


350  MAIN  STREET  - - BUFFALO 

COCOA  CREAMS 

60  CENTS  PER  POUND 

The  Most  Delicious  Chocolate 
Confection  Ever  Made. 

BELL  PHONE,  SENECA  147. 
FRONTIER  PHONE,  10651. 

OPEN  UNTIL  11.30  P.  M. 

± 


Wm.  B.  Kennedy 


...FUNERAL  DIRECTOR... 

346  EAGLE  ST.,  Corner  Cedar. 


Bell  Phone,  321. 
Frontier,  1369. 


OPEN  DAY  AND  NIGHT. 


REV.  E.  H.  LATIMER, 
North  Tonawanda,  N.  Y. 


In  fbemoriam 


The  late  Chas.  H.  Webster  was 
always  a friend  of  Grace  Church, 
supporting  it  on  every  opportune 
occasion.  ::  ::  :: 

His  sterling  integrity  and  generous 
nature  brought  him  the  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  him.  ::  :: 


World  Wide  Methodism  according  to  1901  Statistics 


Denominations  .... 
Ministers  ..... 
Local  Preachers  .... 
Members  ..... 
Churches  ..... 
Sunday  Schools  .... 
Sunday  School  Officers  and  Teachers 
Sunday  School  Scholars 


WESTERN 

WORLD 

including 
Missions  in 
Eastern 
World 

EASTELN 

WORLD 

GRAND 
TOTA  L 

The  M.  E. 
being  the 
largest. 

17 

13 

30 

42,083 

6,276 

48,359 

46,423 

58,413 

104,836 

6,437,461 

1,221,824 

7,659,285 

62,121 

27,027 

89,048 

62,009 

20,750 

82,759 

582,925 

273,415 

856,340 

5,091,897 

2,175,632 

7,267,511 

REV.  MARK  R.  CHAPMAN, 
Alden  M.  E.  Church. 


L 


...  THE ... 


WRITING  MACHINE 


BUFFALO  IS  DOTTED  WITH  UNDERWOOD  TYPEWRITERS 
And  the  “ DOTS  ” are  getting  closer  every  day. 

* 

A trial  of  the  “ Busy  Man’s  Machine  ” will  convince  you  of  its 

TIME-SAVING  QUALITIES 

* 

We  have  shown  the  “OTHER  FELLOW” 

Let  us  “SHOW  YOU” 

Awarded  the  GRAND  PRIZE,  St.  Louis  Exposition,  1905. 

UNDERWOOD  TYPEWRITER  CO. 

52  Niagara  Street  - BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


[ 


E.  Bert  Henshaw,  Manager. 

Hotel  Broezel 

JOHN  E.  BOLDT. 

Rates  $3.00  Per  Day  and  Upwards.  American  Plan.  Fire-Proof. 
ALL  MEALS  75  CENTS. 

One  Block  from  Principal  Railroad  Stations. 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


Rogers’  Commission  House 

MEMBER  BUFFALO  PRODUCE  EXCHANGE. 

WHOLESALE  GENERAL  COMMISSION 

FRUITS,  VEGETABLES,  POULTRY,  GAME,  ETC. 

HOTEL  AND  STEAMBOAT  SUPPLIES  A SPECIALTY. 


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ONE  GRADE  OF  MATERIAL  ONLY 

Office  Always  Open  C=D  304  MAIN  STREET 


Hn  flfcemorp  of 

Cbas.  W.  Webster 


SAMUEL  McGERALD, 

Former  Editor  of  the  “ Christian  UpJook.’* 


REV.  GLEZEN  FILLMORE. 


(The  Pioneer  of  Western  New  York  Methodism.) 

The  following  is  a synopsis  of  an  article  read  before  the  Ministers’ 
Association  on  Monday,  May  15th,  1905,  by  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Robinson  of 
Clarence,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.  Space  will  not  permit  it  in  full. 

The  Rev.  Glezen  Fillmore  was  born  of  solid  Puritan  stock  in  Ben- 
nington, Vt.,  Dec.  22nd,  1789,  and  died  at  Clarence  on  January  26, 
1875,  after  making  the  latter  place  his  home  for  about  seventy  years, 
where  rest  his  mortal  remains,  with  those  of  his  wife,  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery. 

When  an  infant  his  parents  moved  to  Paris,  Oneida  County,  a 
place  7 miles  south  of  Utica,  then  a place  of  but  two  log  houses.  He 
attended  district  school  at  Paris  and  later  an  academy  at  Clinton,  3 
miles  distant. 

He  became  a Christian  when  17  years  old  and  leaned  strongly 
towards  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  parents  objected  to  him 
joining  the  latter,  as  they  had  a very  poor  idea  of  the  Methodists,  but 
being  conscientious,  he  did  join  the  following  year.  The  records  show 
that  he  was  licensed  to  exhort  March  18th,  1809,  ten  days  after  which 
event  he  started,  with  his  knapsack  on  his  back,  for  the  West. 

He  held  his  first  meeting  4 miles  from  Willliamsville  at  the  house 
of  David  Hamlin.  Two  persons  besides  the  family  being  present,  he 
prayed,  exhorted  and  held  a Class  meeting. 

The  following  October  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  Batavia  Circuit,  of  which  Gideon  Draper  was  Presiding 
Elder.  He  served  9 years  as  local  preacher  and  did  noble  work,  refus- 
ing to  enter  the  regular  ministry  on  account  of  his  modest  opinion  of 
his  ability,  his  parents’  opposition  and  delicate  health. 

In  1816,  after  listening  to  him  preach  with  masterly  ability  for 
two  hours  at  a Camp  Meeting,  his  father’s  opposition  to  his  entering 
the  ministry  broke  down  and  he  was  bidden  to  do  as  he  felt  called. 

In  1818  he  was  admitted  to  Genesee  Conference  and  stationed  at 
Buffalo  and  Black  Rock.  There  were  then  about  1,500  inhabitants, 
but  no  Church  Building  in  the  Village. 

He  secured  the  consent  of  the  owrner  of  a private  school  house  in 
Buffalo,  where  the  Episcopalians  held  service,  to  use  the  house  part  of 
the  time.  He  preached  at  sunrise  and  at  early  candle-light,  and  during 
the  day  he  preached  twice  at  Black  Rock,  making  four  full  services 
every  Sabbath.  His  preaching  had  such  an  effect  that  the  Presbyterian 
minister,  by  the  name  of  Squire,  who  preached  in  the  court  house,  be- 
came alarmed,  and  advised  him  to  leave,  as  the  other  two  societies  had 
the  ground,  and  there  wasn’t  sufficient  support  for  another. 

Mr.  Fillmore  told  him  he  was  sent  there  by  the  Conference,  and 
he  couldn’t  leave.  Besides,  said  he,  I have  14  appointments  in  the 
country  now,  which  I attend  on  week-days.  “Well,”  said  Mr.  Squire, 


REV.  JAMES  H.  POTTS,  D.  D., 
Editor  Michigan  Christian  Advocate. 


“you  will  not  get  a support  here.”  “Then,”  said  Mr.  Fillmore,  “I 
will  preach  without  a support.”  After  a little  this  Christian  minister 
of  another  denomination  worked  a scheme,  and  obtained  the  consent 
of  the  owner  of  the  school  house  to  drive  the  intruder  out.  A council 
was  held  among  the  Methodists,  and  it  was  decided  to  build  a church. 

A lot  was  leased  on  what  is  now  Franklin  Street,  and  a church 
25x35  feet,  was  commenced  on  the  8th  of  December,  and  dedicated  on 
he  24th  of  the  following  Janizary,  a period  of  less  than  two  months. 
Mr.  Fillmore  was  entirely  responsible  for  the  financing  and  building  of 
this,  the  first  church  in  Buffalo. 

He  says  in  his  record : “I  had  no  trustees,  no  time  to  make  them, . 
and  nothing  to  make  them  of.”  Thomas  Mason,  a book  agent  at  New 
York,  to  whom  he  wrote,  collected  and  gave  him  $170,  and  James 
Elliott,  Esq.,  gave  him  $300,  and  the  people,  who  were  poor,  not  having 
recovered  fully  from  the  effects  of  the  recent  war,  gave  the  rest.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  here  a quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Clarence.  The 
entire  church,  consisting  of  7 members,  rode  in  a lumber  wagon  to 
the  meeting.  He  preached  at  Black  Rock  in  the  soldiers’  barracks  to 
large  and  attentive  congregations,  and  during  a part  of  his  term  he 
lived  at  Black  Rock  in  a house  furnished  by  Gen.  Porter. 

His  salary  the  first  year  was  $70;  the  second  year,  $150.  His  next 
appointment  was  Clarence.  He  stayed  one  year,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed presiding  elder  of  the  Erie  District,  which  stretched  from  Lake 
Ontario  to  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  was  nearly  as  wide  as  the  old  Genesee 
Conference. 

The  appointing  of  such  a young  man,  and  with  so  little  experience, 
by  Bishop  George  subjected  him  to  criticism  among  the  older  brethren, 
but  he  fully  sustained  the  Bishop’s  opinion  of  his  ability  to  do  the 
work.  It  was  while  closing  up  his  last  year  on  this  District  that  the 
sheriff  called  on  him  to  preach  at  the  execution  of  the  three  Thayer 
brothers.  On  the  17th  of  June,  1825,  a vast  multitude,  estimated  at 
from  30,000  to  50,000  people,  gathered  together  through  morbid  curi- 
osity, and  Mr.  Fillmore  preached  from  1 Cor.  10,  11:  “Now  all  these 
things  happened  unto  them  for  ensamples;  and  they  are  written  for 
our  admonition.”  That,  as  he  was  heard  to  say,  was  one  of  the  most 
impressive  events  of  his  life,  and  with  a voice  that  reached  to  the  ears 
of  the  last  man  in  that  mighty  throng,  he  preached  with  a power  that 
none  ever  forgot.  Several  times  he  was  called  to  officiate  on  similar 
occasions. 

From  the  Erie  District  he  went  as  Presiding  Elder  to  the  Chenango 
District,  an  almost  unlimited  field  of  labor,  over  which  hundreds  of 
miles  from  home,  he  traveled  through  forest  and  stream,  before  rail- 
roads were  ever  dreamed  of. 

The  following  year  he  was  reappointed  to  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock, 
and  again  stayed  two  years.  At  this  time  he  organized  the  first  Sunday 


PASTORAL  RECORD. 

PASTORS  OF  GRACE  CHURCH. 


Year  of 
Appointment. 

1844  JOHN  DENNIS* 

1846  ALPHA  WRIGHT* 

1848  JAMES  M.  FULLER* 
1850  SCHUYLER  SEAGER* 
1852  A.  D.  WILBOR  * 

1854  PHILO  E.  BROWN* 

1855  W.  H.  DE  PUY* 

1857  SANFORD  HUNT* 

1859  A.  D.  WILBOR* 

1861  D.  D.  LORE* 

1863  SCHUYLER  SEAGER* 

1864  T.  H.  KNOWLES* 

1897  BYRON  II.  STAUFFER 
*Deceased. 


Year  of 
Appointment. 

1867  GEORGE  P.  PORTER* 
1870  D.  H.  MULLER 
1872  G.  W.  PADDOCK 
1874  ROSS  C.  HOUGHTON 
1876  D.  ID  MULLER 
1879  S.  W.  LLOYD 
1881  R.  M.  STRATTON 
1884  J.  B.  WENTWORTH* 

1886  J.  T.  GRACEY 
1889  THOMAS  E.  BELL 
1892  IRA  T.  WALKER 
1895  CHARLES  B.  SPARROW* 
1903  W.  A.  Y.  E.  PATTYSON 


School  in  this  city.  From  this  charge  he  was  sent  to  Batavia.  While 
there,  with  the  interests  of  Buffalo  ever  in  his  heart,  he  secured  from 
Mr.  Elllicott,  the  land  agent,  the  gift  of  an  elegant  lot  on  the  north 
side  of  Niagara  Street,  extending  from  Pearl  to  Franklin,  and  running 
back  to  an  alley,  which  afterwards  became  the  site  of  the  Niagara 
Street  M.  E.  Church.  This  lot,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city,  was  se- 
lected by  him,  and  a deed  of  it  was  given  outright  to  him  by  Mr. 
Ellicott.  Later,  several  years  after  the  church  was  built,  while  he  was 
in  Monroe  County,  near  the  lake,  attending  a quarterly  meeting,  he 
heard  that  the  trustees  proposed  to  sell  a part  of  the  lot. 

The  next  day,  although  a cold  winter  day  in  December,  he  started 
for  Buffalo,  and  secured  a meeting  of  the  trustees.  He  besought  them 
under  no  consideration  to  sell  a foot  of  the  land.  With  all  his  wonder- 
ful power,  he  showed  them  the  advantages  which  would  accrue  to 
them  and  to  the  work  at  large  by  holding  it  until  the  rents  and  profits 
would  be  sufficient  to  build  a church  every  year,  and  they  would  not 
only  help  themselves,  but  be  able  to  give  assistance  to  poor  societies 
all  over  the  district.  The  trustees  took  a week  to  consider  it,  and  then 
they  said:  “Elder  Fillmore  can  preach,  but  he  don’t  understand 

financial  matters  as  we  do,”  and  they  sold  all  the  lot  except  the 
ground  occupied  by  the  church  building,  and  thus  defeated  the  benefi- 
cent design  of  this  far-seeing  man  of  God,  and  brought  final  disaster 
to  themselves.  After  his  appointment  to  Batavia,  he  appears  to  have 
returned  to  Buffalo;  then  to  a district  called  Ontario,  where  he  re- 
mained but  a year.  The  next  two  years  he  labored  as  pastor  of  the 
first  and  only  M.  E.  Church  then  in  Rochester.  These  years  it  is  said 
were  the  most  remarkable  years  of  his  ministry.  A marvelous  revival 
broke  out  in  August  at  a camp-meeting  at  Henrietta,  the  influence  of 
which  was  carried  back  to  Rochester.  There  were  over  900  that  pro- 
fessed conversion,  and  the  minutes  of  1833  show  a membership  for  our 
church  of  732. 

This  was  the  commencement  of  prosperity  for  Methodism  in  what 
was  then  the  village  of  Rochester.  This  revival  is  without  a parallel 
in  the  history  of  Genesee  Conference,  and  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say 
that  Rochester  as  well  as  Buffalo  is  indebted  to  this  great  and  good 
man  under  God,  for  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  of  Metho- 
dism. After  a year  as  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Rochester  District,  the 
people  of  that  place  clamored  so  strongly  for  his  return  that  he  became 
pastor  again.  From  Rochester  he  was  appointed  to  Buffalo  for  the 
third  time,  and  stationed  at  Niagara  Street.  Four  years  more  as 
Presiding  Elder  of  Buffalo  District  brought  him  back  again  to  Buffalo 
and  Black  Rock,  with  Tonawanda  added  to  the  charge.  Then  from 
Lockport,  South  Church  2 years,  Buffalo  District  claimed  him  again 
as  Presiding  Elder  for  the  next  3 years,  then  back  to  Rochester  West 
District  for  one  year.  Special  interest  lingers  around  his  term  at 


REV.  WILLIAM  H.  DUPUY,  1855. 


Lockport,  where  he  made  a signal  success.  Mention  is  made  of  his 
marvelous  power  in  prayer.  It  is  said  that  a mass  temperance  meeting 
was  to  be  held  on  the  public  square  in  front  of  the  court  house. 

Bro.  Fillmore  was  at  his  home  in  Clarence,  and  Judge  Gardiner, 
one  of  the  committee  of  arrangements,  insisted  on  sending  for  him  to 
open  the  meeting  with  prayer.  The  exercises  proceeded  while  the 
court  was  in  session.  Judge  Dayton  presided,  and  a lawyer  was 
earnestly  addressing  court  and  jury.  Soon  the  powerful  voice  of  the 
one  praying  filled  the  court  room  and  the  judge  was  seen  looking  out 
of  the  open  window,  and  listening  to  the  prayer.  The  lawyer  ceased 
his  pleading,  and  with  one  consent,  the  court,  jury,  bar  and  spectators 
sat  in  silence  and  listened  to  the  prayer  until  it  was  ended. 

All  who  heard  it  felt  that  they  had  never  heard  such  a prayer. 
Sister  Joslyn,  86  years  old,  one  of  the  elect  ladies  of  Methodism,  for- 
merly of  Clarence,  now  living  at  Bowmansville,  spoke  impressively 
about  Bro.  Fillmore’s  power  in  prayer.  There  sat  on  his  face  a 
seraphic  vision  and  the  very  gates  of  heaven  seemed  to  open  while  he 
prayed.  At  the  Conference  of  1847  he  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  Genesee  District,  which  office  he  filled  acceptably  for  3 years.  In 
1850  his  name  appears  as  Presiding  Elder  of  Niagara  District,  and  he 
remained  until  his  term  expired.  The  last  four  years  of  his  active 
ministry  were  spent  as  Presiding  Elder  of  Buffalo  District.  He  was 
effective  to  the  last. 

For  14  years  he  served  as  pastor,  and  27  years  as  presiding  elder. 
Nine  splendid  years  of  work  he  spent  in  the  local  ranks,  which  must 
be  added  to  his  remarkable  record,  making  in  all  just  half  a century 
in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  Four  times  his  brethren  honored  him 
by  sending  him  to  represent  them  in  the  General  Conference.  When 
the  time  came  when  he  felt  that  he  must  give  up  the  active  work,  as  he 
left  the  cabinet  without  an  appointment  to  ask  for  a superannuated 
relation,  he  said  to  an  associate : ‘ ‘ This  is  the  hardest  appointment  I 

ever  received.  ’ ’ He  was  a man  of  one  work.  He  loved  the  ministry  of 
Jesus  Christ.  One  cannot  help  seeing  it,  from  the  time  he  started  West 
as  an  exhorter,  with  a knapsack  on  his  back. 

1 asked  Sister  Joslyn  what  sort  of  a preacher  he  was,  and  she  said 
he  was  not  so  highly  educated,  but  he  had  a great  delivery.  The  people 
loved  to  hear  him  preach,  she  said.  Someone  has  remarked  that  a sight 
of  his  face  was  as  good  as  a sermon.  He  had  a kind,  benevolent 
nature,  and  possessed  great  control  over  himself  and  others.  He  was 
often  called  upon  to  settle  disputes  which  others  found  it  impossible 
to  settle.  His  long  experience  as  a presiding  elder  is  suggestive  of  his 
character.  It  would  be  difficult,  I think,  to  find  its  parallel  in  the 
whole  connection.  He  loved  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  they 
evidently  loved  him.  There  can  be  no  question  but  that  he  knew  the 
trials  and  hardships  of  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher.  He  knew 


REV.  SANFORD  HUNT,  1857. 


REV.  T.  H.  KNOWLES,  1864. 


what  it  was  to  live  on  short  fare  to  get  a bare  pittance  for  a life  of 
devotion  to  the  ministry.  At  one  quarterly  meeting  in  this  city,  when 
Presiding  Elder  of  his  first  district,  he  received  the  total  sum  of  75 
cents  and  at  Lewiston,  50  cents. 

He  knew  the  trials  of  frontier  life.  When  a teacher  and  a local 
preacher  20  years  old,  in  1809,  he  married  Miss  Lovina  Atwell,  and 
took  his  bride  to  his  boarding  place  at  the  Harris  Hill  house.  Not 
long  after  he  went  into  the  forest  3 miles  north,  cut  the  logs  and  built 
his  own  house.  There  he  took  his  young  wife,  even  before  the  house 
had  a door,  which  some  carpenter,  on  account  of  sickness,  had  failed 
to  make.  Black  bears  were  frequently  seen,  and  timber  wolves 
prowled  around  and  howled  at  night.  Once,  when  a preacher  was 
staying  with  them,  at  this  same  log  house,  he  was  awakened  in  the 
night  with  sounds  the  like  of  which  he  had  never  heard  before.  On 
being  told  it  was  a “wolf  concert”  and  seeing  only  a blanket  at  the 
door,  he  proposed,  in  great  alarm,  to  climb  to  a safer  place  in  the  loft. 
It  was  while  living  at  this  house,  north  of  Harris  Hill,  that  Bro.  Fill- 
more narrowly  escaped  with  his  life.  He  had  been  to  a meeting  at 
Clarence  and  returned  late.  The  night  set  in  dark,  but  he  had  his 
lantern  with  him,  which,  however,  needed  replenishing.  The  story  is 
that  he  stopped  at  a house,  and  procured  some  new  tow  and  oil,  and 
proceeded  on  his  way  toward  home.  Long  before  he  reached  his  place 
he  heard  a snarl,  and  saw  several  bright  eyes  about  him.  He  was 
followed  by  the  wolves.  Soon  others  joined  the  pack,  but  he  hurried 
along,  and  swung  his  lantern  about,  and  the  savage  brutes,  cowed  by 
the  light,  kept  at  a safe,  but  uncomfortably  close  distance. 

That  was  an  experience  for  a Methodist  preached  with  a ven- 
geance ; to  walk  through  the  lonely  mazes  of  a forest  on  a dark  night, 
with  a pack  of  snarling  wolves  snapping  at  his  heels.  It  is  hard  to 
think  of  a greater  peril.  Nor  were  wolves  and  bears  their  only  un- 
pleasant companions. 

One  sunny  Sabbath  Mrs.  Fillmore  stepped  out  of  the  house  and 
walked  a short  distance,  and  there,  lying  on  a log  and  partly  wound 
about  it,  was  a monster  black  snake,  as  thick  as  a man’s  arm.  She  did 
nothing,  and  told  her  husband  when  he  came  home  in  the  evening,  but 
when  he  looked  for  the  snake  it  was  gone.  It  was  here  they  lived  when 
the  alarm  came  that  the  British  and  Indians  were  coming.  Shutting 
the  door,  which  was  without  lock,  and  leaving  everything  as  it  was, 
they  drove  the  cows  before  them,  and  walked  to  Alexander,  where 
they  remained  three  weeks.  When  they  returned  they  found  the  door 
closed,  and  everything  just  as  they  left  it. 

Shortly  after  this  episode,  they  moved  to  Clarence,  and  resided 
in  a log  house,  which  stood  on  the  site  where  the  quaint  old  frame 
house,  with  its  immense  fire-place  chimney  now  stands.  Here  Mrs. 
Fillmore  lived,  mostly  alone,  while  her  husband  performed  the  tasks 


REV.  GEORGE  P.  PORTER,  1867. 


REV.  D.  H.  MULLER,  1870,  1876. 


STATEMENT  OF 

The  Erie  County  Savings  Bank 

OF  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

• 

January  1,  1905. 

ASSETS. 

At  Their  Market  value. 

Bonds  and  Mortgages, 

$14,454,118.50 

District  of  Columbia  Bonds,  . 

836,500.00 

State  of  Tennessee  Bonds, 

582,000.00 

State  of  Louisiana  Bonds,  . . . 

210,000.00 

State  of  Massachusetts  Bonds, 

530,000.00 

Bonds  of  Cities  in  Other  States,  . . . . 

2.177,260.00 

Bonds  of  Cities  in  this  State,  .... 

5,769,232.83 

Bonds  of  Counties  in  this  State, 

656, 270. ( 0 

Railroad  Mortgage  Bonds,  . . 

8,079,420.00 

Banking  House, 

700,000.00 

Other  Real  Estate, 

125,667.29 

Cash  on  Hand, , . 

229,242.75 

Cash  on  Deposit  in  Banks,  .... 

3,084,915.75 

Interest  Accrued.  ....... 

394,672.56 

$37,829,299,68 

LIABILITIES. 

Amount  due  Depositors,  ..... 

$34,956,318.64 

SURPLUS, 

$2,872,981.04- 

$37,829,299,68 

Number  of  open  accounts, 

January  1,  1905, 

71,061. 

Officers. 

DAVID  R.  MORSE,  ROBERT  S.  DONALDSON, 

President. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

JAMES  H.  LEE,  ROBERT  D.  YOUNG, 

First  Vice-President.  Ass’t  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

OLIVER  J.  EGGERT,  HENRY  WARE  SPRAGUE, 

Second  Vice-President. 

Attorney. 

Trustees. 

David  R.  Morse,  Oliver  J.  Eggert, 

Joseph  P.  Dudley, 

Alfred  P.  Wright,  James  Sweeney, 

William  A.  Rogers, 

Charles  Greiner,  George  L.  Williams, 

G.  Barrett  Rich, 

James  H.  Lee,  Dexter  P.  Rumsey, 

John  J.  McWilliams, 

Henry  M.  Watson,  Robert  S.  Donaldson, 

George  R.  Howard. 

REV.  G.  W.  PADDOCK,  1872. 


REV.  ROSS  C.  HOUGHTON,  1874. 


of  an  itinerant  preacher  and  presiding  elder.  When  it  became  known 
in  the  fall  of  1858  that  he  had  decided  to  bring  his  labors  as  an  itinerant 
to  a close,  his  friends  gathered  together  in  Clarence,  and  paid  him  a 
visit,  and  also  left  substantial  tokens  of  their  regard.  There  were 
fully  2,000  who  thus  gathered  to  show  their  esteem  to  this  friend  of 
God  and  man,  who  had  reached  his  70th  year. 

It  was  a great  day  in  Clarence.  The  people,  always  noted  for 
such  things,  spread  long  tables  in  a beautiful  grove  nearby,  and  loaded 
them  with  good  things  to  eat.  Addresses,  reminiscent  and  congratu- 
latory, were  made.  At  length  an  elegant  rosewood  chair  was  brought 
out  and  presented  to  him  by  the  citizens  of  Clarence  as  a slight  token 
of  their  esteem,  and  he  was  urged  to  rest  his  weary  limbs  in  it,  after 
so  long  a life  of  toil. 

It  is  said  he  looked  embarrassed,  and,  after  a little  hesitation,  re- 
marked: “There  is  but  one  chair,”  betokening  that  if  he  needed  one 
his  aged  companion  also  stood  in  need.  Bro.  Francis  H.  Root  of  Buf- 
falo, who  was  present,  took  the  hint,  and  assured  him  that  one  for  her 
would  be  immediately  forthcoming.  “Then,”  said  the  old  gentleman, 
* 1 mine  will  give  me  double  comfort.  ’ ’ This  care  for  his  companion,  who 
shared  his  life’s  joys  and  cares,  was  beautiful,  but  it  was  always  so.  In 
their  home  life  they  set  the  people  an  example  of  family  devotion  and 
peace. 

Mrs.  Fillmore  was  a small  person  in  stature,  but  with  an  active 
business  temperament.  She  must  have  had  great  courage  and  nerve  to 
live  alone  in  a dense  forest,  as  she  did,  with  no  one  but  wild  animals 
about  her.  The  story  is  told  that  one  night,  hearing  a noise,  as  though 
a thief  was  in  the  next  room,  she  summoned  a young  woman  friend, 
who  happened  to  be  with  her,  and  said : “You  keep  right  behind  me,” 
and  went  into  the  room  with  a light,  only  to  see  the  thief  escape 
through  an  open  window.  Another  time  she  heard  noises  at  the  barn 
and  went  alone  and  drove  off  someone  who  had  come  to  steal  the  oats. 
Mrs.  Fillmore  may  not  have  been  of  much  help  along  the  lines  of 
church  work,  for  she  was  modest  and  retiring  in  her  Christian  testi- 
mony, but  she  believed  in  her  husband,  and  in  his  work,  and  kept 
his  home-spot  warm,  and  his  heart  strong;  and  no  eulogy  of  him  would 
be  complete  without  equal  praise  of  her  who  traveled  life’s  pathway 
with  him  for  nearly  70  years.  Mrs.  Fillmore  believed  the  adage  “early 
to  bed,  early  to  rise,”  was  good  for  preachers  as  well  as  others. 

When  one  such  visitor  came,  as  was  frequently  the  case,  when  it 
came  to  be  9 o’clock,  she  would  like  a candle  and  give  it  to  him,  and 
show  him  where  to  sleep,  and  at  5 o’clock  in  the  morning  she  would 
call  him  to  breakfast. 

Alas,  those  good  old  times,  I fear,  have  passed — at  least,  with  the 
“cloth”  now-a-days.  Father  Fillmore  used  to  relate  some  amusing 
incidents  of  his  early  ministry.  Once  he  was  sent  for  to  marry  a 


REV.  JOHN  B WENTWORTH,  1884. 


couple,  but  when  he  reached  a certain  stream  he  found  it  swollen  so 
much  that  his  horse  could  not  safely  cross  it.  He  tied  his  horse  to  a 
tree,  and  then  sought  for  some  way  to  get  over.  He  found  at  last  a 
place  where  a tree  had  fallen,  and  by  creeping  carefully  along,  he 
managed  to  reach  the  opposite  bank.  When  the  happy  couple  were 
made  one  the  bride  asked  him  if  he  would  take  a peck  of  beans  for 
his  fee.  He  thought,  however,  that  it  Avould  be  impossible  for  him  to 
cross  the  tree  again  loaded  down  with  a peck  of  beans,  and  so  they 
compromised  by  the  groom  giving  him  a quarter.  Another  wedding 
case.  A party  came  at  midnight,  when  they  were  all  abed  and  asleep. 
The  elder  was  awakened,  and  rose  to  find  it  was  a couple,  who  said 
“they  wanted  to  get  hitched  on.”  He  told  the  rest  of  the  family  to 
remain  abed,  and  he  married  them.  His  fee  was  50  cents.  For  another 
wedding  fee  were  offered  him  dried  apples. 

Glezen  Fillmore  has  left  a character  and  work  which  we  may  well 
study  with  profit.  He  possessed  the  elements  of  greatness.  In  his 
veins  flowed  the  blood  of  which  Presidents  are  made.  He  was  cousin 
to  Millard  Fillmore,  who  occupied  the  highest  place  within  the  gift 
of  this  great  nation. 

Yet  he  would  not  have  exchanged  places  with  him.  To  be  a 
Methodist  preacher,  in  his  opinion,  was  greater  than  to  be  President. 
There  is  a charm  of  devotion  seen  in  his  life  work  that  is  seldom 
met  with.  He  might  have  shot  bears  and  wolves  for  a pastime  and 
fished  the  well-stocked  streams,  but  his  pastime  was  to  hunt  for  souls 
and  to  get  men  into  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

With  his  usual  business  sagacity,  he  obtained  a farm,  so  that,  as  I 
think,  the  little  woman  would  never  come  to  want;  but  he  never 
worked  it  himself,  but  always  rented  it,  he  having  other  and  more 
important  work  to  do. 

Glezen  Fillmore  was  called  of  God  into  his  holy  ministry,  as  cer- 
tainly as  was  the  Apostle  Paul,  and  his  spirit  of  approach  to  men,  and 
of  constant  labor,  amici  all  obstacles,  was  singularly  similar.  “This 
one  thing  I do”  he  could  conscientiously  say  as  he  threaded  the  blazed 
trails  of  the  virgin  forest  and  risked  his  life  and  personal  comfort 
while  he  sought  out  the  dwellings  of  men.  And  when  he  found  them 
his  soul  went  out  in  gentle  love  for  their  souls,  and  not  a man  met  him 
but  soon  came  to  feel  that  he  stood  face  to  face  with  a friend.  With 
Napoleonic  promptness,  always  at  it,  seeking  a soul  wherever  he 
might  find  it,  gentle  as  a woman,  believing  in  smiles  rather  than 
frowns  to  effect  his  purpose,  with  wonderful  pulpit  power  and  a hold 
on  the  throne  of  heaven,  through  mighty  prayer,  that  seemed  well 
nigh  resistless,  he  went  up  and  down  the  vast  regions  of  the  Western 
part  of  this  Empire  State  the  embodiment  of  spiritual  power— the  ideal 
herald  of  the  King  of  Kings.  This  paper  could  be  extended  indefinitely 
with  interesting  facts  about  this  departed  saint  and  servant  of  God. 


REV.  JOHN  T.  GRACEY,  1886.  REV.  THOMAS  E.  BELL,  1889. 


REV.  IRA  T.  WALKER,  1892.  REV.  CHARLES  B.  SPARROW,  1895 


but  I fear  that  I have  exhausted  my  time.  Glezen  Fillmore  was  born 
for  his  age,  and  the  work  given  him  to  do  was  the  kind  of  work  he 
was  qualified  to  perform. 

Genesee  Conference  is  proud  of  the  name  of  Glezen  Fillmore,  all 
Western  New  York,  where  he  labored,  is  proud  of  him.  It  is  an  in- 
spiration to  think  of  his  noble  character,  and  a mighty  impulse  is 
begotten  when  one  considers  his  fifty  years  of  uninterrupted  work. 
Thank  God  for  Father  Fillmore  and  the  men  of  his  class,  who  have 
made  proud  the  name  of  Methodism. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM  W.  MASON 

Among  the  most  faithful  and  valuable  members  of  Grace  Church 
in  its  earlier  history  were  William  W.  Mason  and  his  wife  Fanny. 
Both  were  born  in  Vermont,  in  1812  and  1814  respectively.  Mrs.  Mason 
was  converted  in  1830,  and  came  with  her  father’s  family  to  Buffalo 
in  1835,  uniting  by  letter  with  Niagara  Street  church,  then  the  only 
Methodist  society  in  the  city.  They  were  married  in  1837.  Mr. 
Mason  came  to  Buffalo  in  1835,  and  with  his  wife  formed  a part  of  the 
twenty-five  members  of  Niagara  Street  church,  who  volunteered  to 
form  the  class  which  became  the  new  Swan  Street  church.  Mr.  Mason 
was  an  active  worker  in  the  church  and  filled  the  offices  of  trustee  and 
steward  with  great  acceptability.  The  family  home  was  on  Elm  Street 
and  was  a center  of  social  life  and  hospitality.  The  fruits  and  flowers 
which  abounded  in  their  garden  were  very  attractive  to  the  writer 
and  form  bright  pictures  in  his  memory.  The  family  consisted  of 
father,  mother,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  exercised  a blessed  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. They  were  noted  for  their  faithful,  consistent  lives  and  their 
unselfish  devotion  to  every  interest  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Mason  died  very  suddenly  October  26,  1860.  It  was  on 
Thursday  evening.  He  was  on  his  way  to  the  church  with  the  bread 
for  the  lovefeast,  was  taken  ill,  and  died  soon  after  reaching  home. 

The  Christian  home  he  had  founded  continued  to  be  a center  of 
religious  activity  in  the  community.  Mary  and  Martha,  the  daugh- 
ters, now  members  of  Richmond  Avenue  Church,  have  always  proved 
to  be  what  their  namesakes  were  in  the  home  at  Bethany,  where 
Jesus  loved  to  stay. 

During  the  later  years  of  her  life  Mrs.  Mason  suffered  most 
severely  and  continuously  from  an  affection  which  rendered  her  right 
arm  not  only  helpless,  but  also  extremely  painful.  Few  of  her  ac- 
quaintances ever  knew  how  much  she  suffered,  for  she  endured  the 
constant  agony  with  such  cheerful  composure  and  fortitude  that  her 
sufferings  were  not  visible  to  her  visitors.  Her  presence  was  a 
benediction  to  all  who  knew  her.  Her  life  proved  what  Mathew 
Henry  has  said: 

‘ ‘ Extraordinary  afflictions  are  not  always  the  punishment  of 
extraordinary  sins, but  sometimes  the  trial  of  extraordinary  virtues.” 

WILLIAM  C.  WILBOR. 


EPISCOPAL  DIRECTORY. 


Names  and  Addresses  of  the  Bishops  of  the  M.  E.  Church  as  Arranged 
at  the  General  Conference  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  May,  1904. 

1872  Thomas  Bowman** East  Orange,  N.  J. 

1872  Stephen  M.  Merrill**.  . .57  Washington  Street,  Chicago,  111. 

1872  Edward  G.  Andrews**. . 150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

1880  Henry  W.  Warren University  Park,  Col. 

1880  Cyrus  D.  Foss** 2043  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

1884  John  M.  Walden** 220  West  Fourth  Street,  Cincinnati,  O. 

1884  Willard  F.  Mallalieu** . .Auburndale,  Mass. 

1884  Charles  H.  Fowler 150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

1888  John  H.  Vincent** Indianapolis,  Ind. 

1888  James  N.  Fitzgerald.  . . . 3029  Washington  Avenue,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

1888  Isaac  W.  Joyce 1115  Nicollet  Ave.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

1888  Daniel  A.  Goodsell 36  Bromfield  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

1888  James  M.  Thoburn* Bombay,  India. 

1896  Charles  C.  McCabe 1026  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

1896  Earl  Cranston  Washington,  D.  C. 

1896  Joseph  C.  Hartzell*  150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

1900  David  H.  Moore Portland,  Ore. 

1900  John  W.  Hamilton San  Francisco,  Cal. 

1900  Francis  W.  Warne* Lucknow,  India. 

1904  Joseph  F.  Berry 455  Franklin  Street,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

1904  Henry  Spellmeyer 220  West  Fourth  Street,  Cincinnati,  O. 

1904  William  F.  McDowell.  . .57  Washington  Street,  Chicago,  111. 

1904  James  W.  Bashford Shanghai,  China. 

1904  William  Burt Zurich,  Switzerland. 

1904  Luther  B.  Wilson Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

1904  Thomas  B.  Neely Buenos  Ayres,  Argentina. 

1904  Isaiah  B.  Scott* Monrovia,  Liberia.  1 ~ 

1904  William  F.  Oldham*.  . . . Singapore,  Straits  Settlements. 

1904  John  E.  Robinson* Calcutta,  India. 

1904  Merriman  C.  Harris*.  . . Tokyo,  Japan.  . 1 

The  figures  indicate  year  elected.  *Missionary  Bishop.  **Superanuated. 


...  COMPLIMENTS  ... 

WHEAT’S  ICE  CREAM 
COMPANY 

68  to  72  ELM  STREET 

JOS.  R.  JOHNSTON 

SIGN,  HOUSE  AND... 
DECORATIVE  PAINTING 

Graining  and  Paper  Hanging 

19  WEST  UTICA  STREET 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

JOSEPH  KITTINGER 

Have  your  R TTRRKRS  worn  ou t? 

REAL  ESTATE 

NEXT  TIME  BUY 

HOOD  RUBBERS 

INSURANCE... 

AND  BE  SATISFIED. 

AND  LOANS.. 

One  reason  why  they  wear  so  well  is  the 

PILGRIM  HEEL 

110  Erie  County  Bank  Building 

Patented. 

Made  only  in  Hood  Rubbers.  Ask  to  see  it. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

HOOD  RUBBERS  are 

Telephones: 

Bell,  Seneca  3378-R.  Frontier  769. 

GOOD  RUBBERS 

BEST 

COFFEE  AND  TEA 

of  the  right  flavor  and 

strength,  guaranteed 

Compliments  of 

to  please  at  . . . 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  J.  Olivey. 

WILLET  & BORLAND 
GROCERS 
160  Seneca  Street 

A.  H.  TRACY,  Jr. 

Buxton’s  English  Balsam 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

The  Favorite  Remedy  for 

COUGHS,  COLDS,  HOARSENESS,  IN- 
FLUENZA, DIFFICULTY  IN 

..COAL.. 

BREATHING,  BRON- 
CHITIS and  all 

Affections  of  the  Throat  and  Lungs. 

TELEPHONES:  BELL,  BRYANT  298. 

None  Other  Genuine. 

FRONTIER.  298. 

1455  Main  Street, 

GEORGE  B.  ROGERS,  Prop., 

Near  Glenwood  Ave.,  BUFFALO.  N.  Y. 

402  Michigan  Street,  Cor.  Eagle, 

Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

BISHOP  JOHN  H.  VINCENT 

INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


WRILSON  S.  TIFFT 

Born  in  Nassau,  New  York,  January  10,  1825.  Died  in  Buffalo,  New  York, 
May  3,  1900.  A member  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  from  1871  to  1888. 


...COMPLIMENTS  OF... 

WALTER  D.  GREENE,  M.  D. 

Former  Member  and  Trustee  of 
Grace  M.  E.  Church 


WILLIAM  TAGGERT 


Among  the  most  active  and  prominent  official  members  of  Grace  Church  who 
stand  out  prominently  in  the  memory  of  my  father’s  pastorate  was  William  Taggert. 
Tall,  slim,  dignified,  he  had  a striking  figure  and  strong  personality.  He  was 
kindly  and  gentle  by  nature,  and  a real  leader  in  the  spiritual  life  of  the  Church. 
He  came  with  his  family  to  Buffalo  in  1857.  He  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Ann  Runcie 
Taggert,  joined  Grace  Church  at  once  and  became  prominent  in  the  work  of 
Christianity  in  this  city.  Forty  years  he  was  a member  of  this  Society,  and  fifty 
years  of  his  life  an  office  bearer  in  the  Church.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  at  his  death  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  he  was  revered  and 
honored  by  a large  number  of  acquaintances. 

His  excellent  wife,  who  was  a helpmeet  indeed,  survived  him  by  six  years, 
dying  in  1893  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  her  age.  She  left  behind  her  a blessed 
memory,  the  ripe  fruitage  of  a godly  life. 

Mr.  Taggert  was  a class  leader  from  the  time  he  joined  the  Church  until  his 
death.  His  faithful  admonitions,  his  deep  experience  of  divine  love,  his  spirit  of 
helpfulness  and  encouragement  to  a large  number  who  for  years  attended  his  class, 
will  bring  forth  fruits  unto  salvation  in  the  harvest  of  heaven.  Many  will  rise  up 
and  call  him  blessed. 

When  the  famous  Grace  Church  Praying  Band  was  organized,  with  William 
Dodsworth  leader,  Mr.  Taggert  became  an  ardent  and  efficient  worker.  He  was 
converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church  for 
sixty-nine  years. 

Mr.  Taggert’s  family  of  eight  children  were  active  in  Sunday  School  and  Social 
life  of  the  Church.  Only  four  children  now  survive:  James  A.  and  Sarah  E.  Tag- 
gert, of  Buffalo  ; Robert  T.  Taggert,  of  Angola,  N.  Y.  and  Mrs.  William  W.  Allen. 

WILLIAM  C.  WILBOR. 


k 


GRACE  CHURCH 

During  the  Pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Thos.  E.  Bell. 

Following  the  brilliant  preacher  and  able  writer,  Dr.  Gracey,  I 
found  Grace  Church  passing  through  a crisis.  “The  exodus  to  the  land 
of  promise,  “the  West  Side,”  had  been  going  on  for  some  time,  until 
nearly  all  the  well-to-do  families  had  moved,  leaving  but  a small  com- 
pany to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  church  and  meet  the  current  ex- 
penses. Some  talked  of  selling  the  property  and  dividing  the  money 
with  other  churches.  A bare  handful  determined  to  remain,  and  a 
Quarterly  Conference  committee,  headed  by  Wm.  Barker,  went  to  Con- 
ference and  called  upon  Bishop  Fitzgerald,  saying  they  could  not 
pledge  a dollar  as  salary,  yet,  if  they  could  have  Bro.  Bell,  they  would 
hold  the  field  for  Methodism.  My  first  Sunday  looked  like  a victory. 
Dr.  Wentworth  was  with  us  in  the  evening  and  as  the  “Presiding 
Elder,”  cheered  us  on.  A congregation  that  almost  filled  the  church 
greeted  the  new  pastor.  Dr.  Hunt,  in  his  history  of  Methodism,  says : 
“The  church  from  the  first  was  filled  and  the  people  impressed  that 
the  brother  who  had  turned  the  world  upside  down  had  come  hither, 
also.”  Among  the  many  who  came  to  swell  the  numbers  and  add 
strength  to  the  church — some  by  letters  and  others  by  profession  of 
faith — were  Thomas  Dark,  Sr.,  Dr.  W.  D.  Green,  Henry  Messersmith, 
Sidney  Bovingdon,  Dr.  James  M.  Burke,  Hon.  Josiah  Cook  and  Com- 
rades John  S.  Craft  and  James  Paul. 

The  Epworth  League  was  organized  with  Dr.  J.  D.  Flagg  as  presi- 
dent, and  became  largest,  but  one,  in  the  City.  Byron  H.  Stauffer  com- 
ing into  the  church,  soon  became  the  religious  leader  in  the  League. 
This  splendid  officer  gave  strength  and  enthusiasm  to  the  young  host  of 
Christian  workers.  His  genius,  talent  and  grace  caused  the  Quarterly 
Conference  to  commend  him  for  the  ministry  of  the  church. 

A “Life  Saving  Crew”  of  boys,  numbering  about  fifty,  with  Chester 
Montague  as  president,  helped  in  bringing  non-church  goers  to  the 
meetings.  This  boy-president  has  become  almost  as  famous  as  his  elder 
brother,  Byron  H.  Stauffer,  in  evangelistic  fervor  and  preaching  ability. 

A “Wrecking  Band,”  numbering  about  sixty  men,  organized  to 
save  men  from  the  saloon,  did  valiant  service,  many  families  being 
saved  from  the  drink  curse.  The  Sunday  School  greatly  prospered,  the 
brilliant  lawyer,  Sidney  Bovingdon,  teaching  a large  class,  and  after- 
ward becoming  Superintendent.  Henry  Messersmith,  the  successful 
merchant,  and  James  M.  Burke,  a popular  dentist,  were  famous  teach- 
ers. Mrs.  Thomas  E.  Bell  also  added  to  the  work  by  gathering  a large 
number  of  young  men  in  a Bible  Class.  The  “Old  Pew  System”  was 
abandoned,  and  “Seats  Free”  announced  on  the  outer  walls,  and  a sup- 
port of  $1,800  given  the  pastor  after  the  second  year.  With  the  great- 
est reluctance  I gave  up  the  pastorate — being  invited  to  return  the 
fourth  year,  and  sought  health  in  California. 


The  wisdom  of  the  brethren  who  remained  after  the  exodus  has 
been  fully  sustained  as  time  goes  on,  and  the  “Mother  Church”  con- 
tinues to  give  her  spiritual  children  to  the  other  churches  of  the  city. 

THOS.  E.  BELL, 

Former  pastor  of  Grace  M.  E.  Church. 


Q — D 


City  M.  E.  Church  Statistics 


City  M.  E.  Church 
Statistics 


Richmond  Avenue... 

Lovejoy  Street 

Linwood  Avenue 

Sentinel 

Normal  Park 

Plymouth 

Grace 

Italian  Mission 

Ripley  Memorial. . . . 
Delaware  Avenue  . . 

Asbury  

St.  Marks 

South  Park 

Seneca  Street 

Sumner  Place 

Kensington 

Central  Park 

Humboldt  Parkway. . 
Northampton  Street.. 

Ontario  Street 

Riverside 


Date  of  | 

Organization  j 

No.  of  Members 
at  Organization 

Date  S.  School 
Organized  ! 

No.  of  Scholars 
at  Organization 

Date  Organization  I 
Epworth  League  1 

No.  of  Members  at  1 
Organization  } 

Church  Member-  1 
ship,  1905.  t 

Membership  S. 
School,  1905 

Membership  Ep- 
worth League  1905 

1886 

16 

1885 

100 

1890 

* 960 

1400 

150 

1884 

20 

1884 

60 

1890 

* 145 

210 

28 

1875 

23 

1875 

36 

1890 

62 

* 400 

450 

75 

1872 

18 

1871 

275 

* 480 

347 

76 

1889 

29 

1887 

70 

1891 

18 

* 275 

225 

50 

1859 

1850 

1890 

* 504 

450 

100 

1844 

148 

1844 

120 

18951 

25 

* 480 

380 

87 

1897 

10 

1898 

* 21 

60 

1886 

33 

1886 

30 

1890 

35 

* 200 

240 

60 

1871 

106 

1870 

27 

1893 

54 

* 605 

340 

125 

1847 

138 

1847 

t 488 

445 

150 

1857 

20 

1855 

100 

1890 

25 

* 250 

400 

100 

1873 

16 

1873 

t 102 

175 

28 

1888 

1889 

1894 

* 307 

350 

65 

1888 

30 

1888 

1895 

t 200 

240 

74 

1889 

12 

1889 

t 60 

105 

26 

t 120 

150 

50 

f 125 

240 

34 

t ioo 

100 

40 

t 92 

200 

40 

1856 

1860 

1889 

50 

* 750 

600 

150 

6.764 

6,907 

1,523 

*Reported  May,  1905. 
t From  Genesee  Conference  Report,  1904 


Totals  “aproximately  correct.” 


THE  METHODIST  CHURCH  OF  CANADA. 


In  view  of  the  many  Canadian  Methodists  from  Canada  who  have 
made  this  city  their  home,  we  thought  our  Souvenir  would  not  be 
complete  without  devoting  a page  to  our  prosperous  and  loyal  neigh- 
bors across  the  line. 

Prior  to  1874  there  were  six  Methodist  denominations  in  Canada. 
The  same  year  three  of  them  joined  hands,  and  in  1883  the  remaining 
three  came  in,  completing  the  union  under  the  title  “The  Methodist 
Church.  ’ ’ 

The  first  General  Conference  of  all  the  Methodist  bodies  was  held 
in  Belleville,  Ont.,  in  1883,  the  Rev.  John  A.  Williams,  D.  D.,  President. 
At  this  Conference  Revs.  S.  D.  Rice,  D.  D.,  and  Albert  Carman,  D.  D., 
were  elected  the  first  general  Superintendents.  The  union  has  been 
a marked  success;  old  jealousies  have  entirely  disappeared  and  the 
former  churches  are  but  historical  names.  The  Rev.  Albert  Carman, 
D.  D.,  is  now  and  has  been  for  several  years  General  Superintendent 
of  all  the  Conferences. 

At  the  Union  in  1883  there  were  1,610  ministers  and  probationers ; 
in  1902  there  are  2,030,  an  increase  of  420.  At  that  time  the  members 
numbered  197,479;  now,  291,895;  an  increase  of  94,416.  The  church 
property  was  then  valued  at  $9,895,043;  now  at  $14,190,903,  an  in- 
crease of  $4,295,860.  The  Sunday  School  scholars  then  numbered 
191,185 ; now,  272,566,  an  increase  of  81,381.  The  Church  is  composed 
of  eleven  Annual  Conferences,  two  of  which  are  outside  the  bounds  of 
the  Dominion,  namely,  Newfoundland  and  Japan. 

The  Rev.  William  Briggs,  D.  D.,  is  Book  Steward;  residence  at 
Toronto.  The  Rev.  John  Potts,  D.  D.,  is  Secretary  of  Education.  The 
latter  is  also  Chairman  of  the  World’s  International  Sunday  School 
Committee.  In  going  to  the  World’s  Sabbath  School  Convention  in 
Palestine  in  1904  he  preached  a sermon  on  Mars  Hill  at  Athens,  and  it 
is  said  he  was  the  life  of  the  party  and  was  acknowledged  by  all  to  be 
the  peer  of  any  who  took  part  in  the  services  during  the  trip. 

Over  two-thirds  of  the  Methodist  population  of  the  Dominion 
reside  in  the  Province  of  Ontario,  and  they  are  the  most  numerous  of 
all  the  religious  denominations,  except  the  Roman  Catholics. 

In  Canada,  as  in  the  United  States,  the  Sabbath  School  seems  to 
be  the  greatest  recruiting  means  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the  churches.  Too 
much  attention  cannot  be  given  to  having  the  schools  watched  over  by 
the  best  and  most  capable  members  of  the  congregations.  This  fact  is 
fairly  well  illustrated  by  the  Richmond  Avenue  Church  and  School 
in  this  city,  the  latter  with  a membership  of  1,400,  Mr.  F.  T.  Coppins 
being  Superintendent;  and  is  better  illustrated  by  a school  in  Belle- 
ville, Ont.,  where  the  population  has  remained  practically  the  same  for 
30  years,  and  of  which  William  Johnson  has  been  Superintendent  for 


REV.  WILLIAM  BRIGGS, 
Toronto,  Canada. 


27  years.  During  the  latter’s  services  the  membership  has  grown  from 
465  to  1,083,  this  with  a population  continually  bordering  on  9,000. 

It  is  estimated  that  about  5,000  scholars  have  passed  through  this 
school,  more  than  one-half  coming  to  this  side,  to  Rochester,  Buffalo, 
Chicago  and  the  far  West,  the  writer  being  one.  But  the  nucleus 
from  which  grew  the  Bridge  Street  Methodist  Church  and  School,  was 
formed  in  1795  by  an  American,  the  Rev.  Charles  Dunham. 

This  Church  was  the  first  Methodist  Church  in  Canada  to  use 
instrumental  music,  and  the  first  to  have  a spire  and  a bell.  The 
Sunday  School  gave  the  first  picnic  ever  given  in  the  world  by  a 
Methodist  Sabbath  School,  and,  it  is  believed,  by  any  church. 

In  its  success  and  growth  of  late  years  it  owes  much  to  the  ag- 
gressiveness of  its  Superintendent,  Mr.  Willliam  Johnson,  a man  re- 
spected by  all,  noted  for  being  an  earnest  working  Christian  at  all 
times  and  places,  and  for  his  strenuous  loyalty  to  the  British  Throne, 
a native  of  Ireland,  coming  to  Canada  when  young. 

As  delegate  to  the  World’s  Sabbath  School  Convention  in  Pales- 
tine in  1904,  in  a ship-load  of  800  souls,  composed  of  ministers,  Sunday 
school  superintendents  and  laymen,  it  is  said  Mr.  Johnson  presided 
over  a school  on  ship  on  the  Sabbath  and  the  above  parties  named 
him  the  model  Superintendent. 

In  Belleville  the  Methodists  make  up  over  one-third  the  population 
and  outnumber  the  Roman  Catholics  more  than  two  to  one,  and  have 
about  250  more  scholars  in  their  Sabbath  schools  than  all  other  re- 
ligious bodies  combined. 


HONOR  ROLL 

of  Friends  Who  Have  Helped  Us 


Mr.  W.  L.  Sykes 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  Draper 
Mrs.  Bertha  Kassing 
Mr.  John  H.  Clements 
Mrs.  lulia  Burt 
Mrs.  Louisa  Lanphear 
Mr.  Jacob  Richman 
Mrs.  Agnes  D.  Christopher 
Miss  Serena  Crooks 
Mrs.  O.  S.  Garretson 
Fairchild  Bros,  and  Foster 


Dr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  H.  Briggs 
Mrs.  Anna  Fitzgerald 
Mr.  Charles  O.  Rogers 
Mr.  Harry  E.  Rogers 
Mrs.  Lida  L.  Byrnes 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  J.  Olivey 
Mrs.  D.  C.  Ralph 
Mrs.  M.  Baines 
Horlick’s  Food  Company 
Misses  Mary  and  Martha  Mason 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Stuby 


REV.  JOHN  POTTS,  D.  D. 

TORONTO,  CANADA. 


WM.  JOHNSON, 

27  years  Superintendent  of  the  Bridge  St.  Methodist  Sunday  School, 

BELLEVILLE,  ONT  , CANADA. 


FRED.  GREINER,  Postmaster 


NEW  POST  OFFICE 


%Jo  Our  J-riends : 


We  thank  all  business  advertisers,  Con- 
tributors of  Money  and  Articles  alike,  whose 
aid  has  enabled  us  to  issue  this  Souvenir.  We 
have  not  spared  expense  to  make  it  a work 
that  will  become  more  valuable  as  such  as 
the  years  go  by.  ::  ::  ::  :: 

At  this  time  we  are  pleased  to  announce 
that  it  is  anticipated  the  proceeds  will  exceed 
the  amount  that  we  set  out  to  realize,  that  is, 
$500  to  apply  on  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  Parsonage  mortgage.  ::  ::  :: 

Compiled  by 

MR.  and  MRS.  WM.  COULSON, 

142  Seneca  St.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

May  31,  1905. 


lake  outlet 


Engraved 


The  Teacher’s  Hardest  Trial 

is  the  failure  to  secure  the  attendance  and  attention  of  the 
scholars.  These  desirable  objects  can  best  be  accomplished 
by  using  the  Berean  Series  of  International  Lessons.  By  their 
help  the  teacher  is  better  qualified  to  teach  and  the  scholars 
become  more  interested  in  the  lessons. 

They  meet  all  the  requirements  of  all  the  classes  in  the 
Sunday  School  from  the  beginners  in  the  Primary  Department 
up  to  the  Senior  Bible  Class. 

john  t.  McFarland,  d.d.,  Editor 

'pHE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  JOURNAL.  A teacher 
who  studies  the  lesson  by  the  aid  of  the  Journal  will  be 
well  qualified  to  interest  and  instruct  the  children.  Single  copy, 

60  cents  a year;  in  clubs  of  six  copies  and  upward  to  one 
address,  50  cents  each. 

'pHE  SENIOR  BEREAN  LESSON  QUAR- 
TERLY contains  thoughts  from  the  best  writers,  ques- 
tions for  Senior  Students,  and  other  interesting  points  on  the 
lessons.  20  cents  a year. 

THE  BEREAN  INTERMEDIATE  LESSON 
QUARTERLY.  Biggest  of  all  quarterlies  for  its 
price.  Two  pages  to  each  lesson,  besides  six  pages  of  general 
matter.  5 yz  cents  a year. 

'pHE  ILLUSTRATED  BEREAN  LESSON 
QUARTERLY.  Illustrated  by  leading  artists.  Notes, 
questions,  helpful  thoughts.  12  cents  a year. 

'pHE  BEREAN  BEGINNER’S  LESSON  QUARTERLY.  Picture  illus- 
trations, and  the  matter  is  so  arranged  as  to  meet  exactly  the  needs  of  the  beginners. 
4 cents  a year. 

'pHE  BOYS  AND  GIRLS’  BEREAN  LESSON  QUARTERLY.  A beau- 
tiful, high-class  publication,  profusely  illustrated,  g cents  a year. 

'pHE  LESSON  LEAF.  With  the  leaves  cut  for  weekly  distribution.  4 cents 
a year. 

'pHE  PRIMARY  AND  BEGINNER’S  TEACHER.  Issued  quarterly.  Con- 
tains material  and  suggestions  to  help  the  teacher  tell  the  story  and  teach  the  lessons  in  an 
interesting  manner.  25  cents  a year. 

piCTURE  LESSON  PAPER.  Issued  monthly,  but  arranged  for  weekly  distribution. 

It  is  very  popular  with  the  little  ones  of  the  Primary  Department.  Single  copy,  25  cents 
a year;  in  clubs  of  six  or  over,  to  one  address,  20  cents  each. 

'pHE  BEREAN  LEAF  CLUSTER.  Pictures  brilliantly  illuminated.  A splendid 
weekly  object  lesson.  Issued  quarterly.  $3  a year. 

'pHE  BEREAN  LESSON  PICTURES.  Containing  a picture  for  every  Sunday 
of  the  year.  Yearly  subscription,  10  cents  per  set. 

'PHE  BIBLE  STUDY  HOME  DEPARTMENT  QUARTERLY.  Workers 
of  experience  pronounce  this  quarterly  the  best  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  Home  Depart- 
ment. 20  cents  a year. 

Specimen  copies  cheerfully  furnished  on  request 

EATON  & MAINS  150PS! New  York 


I 


i 


1 


Cbts  flfcemorial 

is  given  by  his  children  in  loving 
memory  of  Joseph  C.  Greene, 
M.  D.  Born  in  Vermont,  July 
31,  1829.  Died  in  Buffalo,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1899. 

From  1875  to  1892  inclusive, 
Dr.  J.  C.  Greene,  was  a regular 
attendant  at  Grace  M.  E.  Church, 
and  for  many  years  was  a trustee 
of  the  same. 


FOR 

Shur-on 
Eye-glasses, 
Artificial  Eyes, 
Occulist 
Prescriptions, 

Come  and.  see  us. 

Failing 
Optical  Co. 

455  Main  Street, 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


CHARLES  W.  DERR 

DAY  AND  NIGHT  PHARMACIST 

A Full  Line  of  DRUGS,  MEDICINES,  TOILET 
ARTICLES,  TOILET  SOAPS,  SPONGES, 
BRUSHES,  COMBS,  Etc.  Physicians’  Pre- 
scriptions carefully  compounded.  Derr’s 
Benzo-Cuta  Cream  for  the  cure  of  chapped 
hands,  face,  etc.  278  N.  DIVISION  ST. 


LOUIS  H.  MUSKOPF  merchant 

Steam  Cleaning  and  Repairing  Neatly  Done. 
372  Michigan,  cor.  N.  Division  St.,  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


HARRY  BUDGE  suC"MBa« 

Custom  Work  a Specialty.  Good  Second-Hand  Shoes 
Bought  and  Sold.  271  Seneca  Street  and 
372  Michigan  Street  - - BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


■flTE  DO  NOT  sell  Wet  or  Dry  Goods  - 

But  sell  all  other  goods  you  may  think  of. 


The  Buffalo  Novelty  Bazaar 

320  Michigan  Street. 

CHAS.  H.  POHLE,  Proprietor. 

WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  NOVELTIES 

CIGARS  AND  TOBACCOS 

Manufacturer  of  and  Dealer  in  Sporting  Goods. 
Tricks  and  Jokes  for  Entertainments.  Large 
Selection  of  Smokers’  Goods.  Pipe  Repairing. 

N.  B.— The  Prof,  can  be  engaged  for  Church  or  Social 
Entertainments  in  high-class  Ledgerdemain. 


Open  Day  and  Night 


Telephones : 

Bell,  Howard  830. 
Frontier,  3875. 


Geo.  H.  Andrews 


UNDERTAKER  AND  EMBALMER  ::  339  N.  Division  Street 


Compliments  of^-^ 

MR.  and  MRS.  LEWIS  STUBY 

299  North  Division  Street 


Compliments  of . . . 

WILLIAM  COULSON 

PHARMACIST 

142  SENECA  STREET 


Established  1858 

F.  T.  COPPINS  & SON 

Buffalo’s  Leading  Painters 
and  Decorators 

691  Main  Street  - BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


Compliments  of . . . 

N.  MEYERS 

HATS  AND  MEN’S  WEAR 

Frontier  Phone  15941 

81  Seneca  St.  - Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


UNITED  STATES 
LAUNDRY 


MRS.  EMMA  R.  GARRETSON 

President  of' : 

ERIE  COUNTY  WOMAN’S 
CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION 
and  LLOYD  ST.  MISSION 
972  Main  Street  - - Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


VIENNA  PRESSED  YEAS" 

ALWAYS  ""LIABLE 


DANFORD’S  THE  MAN 

616  WASHINGTON  STREET 


H.S.Bullett 


UP  STAIRS 
LOW  RENT 
1NUF  SEDi 


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WE  HAVE  COMPETITION 

BEAT 
A 

MILE 


SHELTON  SQUARE 


Hn  Xovincj  IRemembrance  of 

m>rs.  j£U3a  flDuirbeab 

anb 

flDrs.  Xlba  X.  Writes 

Mohawk  ® 

Turkish 

and  Gymnasium  Bath 

Mohawk  St.,  near  Washington. 

GENTLEMEN,  1st  Floor,  Always  Open 
LADIES,  2d  Floor,  Daily,  9 a.  m.  to  9 p.  m.  ( 

BELL  AND  FRONTIER  PHONES. 

T.  & E.  DICKINSON 
& CO. 

WATCHMAKERS,  JEWELERS 
SILVERSMITHS 
AND  DIAMOND  DEALERS 

254  Main  Street 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

GEO.  W.  MALTBY 
& SONS  - 

Successors  to  BRADY  & MALTBY 

CUT  STONE,  FLAGGING, 
GRANITE  AND  MARBLE 

OFFICE  AND  YARD 

21  Maryland  St..  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

Miss  S.  E.  Gillott  & Co. 

NEWS  DEPOT 

A N D 

VARIETY  STORE 

Agency  for  CENTRAL  STAR  LAUNDRY 
Frontier  Phone  16551  406  Michigan  Street 

COULTES  & LAWRENCE 

FANCY  GROCERIES,  TEAS, 
COFFEES,  Etc. 

ALSO  ICE  AND  COAL. 

Bell  Phone,  Howard  666-R.  Orders  promptly  attended  to. 

250  E.  EAGLE  STREET. 

h THE  YALE  HAT 

- $2.00 

[No  Other  Price] 

The  best  in  the  world  for  $2.00 
Why  pay  more  ? 

™ THE  YALF  TAT  CO 

Factory:  Danbury,  Conn.  ALL 

George  R.  Fuller  Co.  Esla1bH1,£hed 

^ Chapin  Block 

NIAGARA  FALLS 


A 


Established  1853. 

Adam  Hauck  & Sons 

OLDEST  AND  MOST  RELIABLE 
HARDWARE  AND  STOVE  HOUSE 

We  do  all  kinds  of  Heating,  Ventilating, 
Tin,  Copper,  Galvanized  and  Sheet 
Iron  Work,  Trade  and  Repair  ail 
Kinds  of  Stoves  & Furnaces. 

505  & 507  MAIN  STREET 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

BOTH  PHONES: 

BELL,  SENECA  1060.  FRONTIER,  1060. 


Z*1ef*cmaht  Tail-OF? 

/ 19  FRANKL.IN  «S7t 

Telephone,  f QT1  TO  172  NORTH 

Seneca  5833.  1.01  U IV  DIVISION  ST. 

BICYCLES  REPAIRED  AND  BUILT 
TO  ORDER 

Parts  and  Sundries.  Repairing  a Specialty. 
Key  and  Locksmith.  All  kinds  of  keys  made. 
All  kinds  of  grinding  done.  Electric 
Bells  installed  and  Repaired. 

PAUL  FOERSTER^pe'eS^.c. 

...  Dealer  in  ... 

WATCHES,  DIAMONDS 
AND  FINE  JEWELRY. 

Expert  in  Fine  Watch  and  Jewelry  Repairing. 
Headquarters  for  Standard  Railroad  Watches. 

134  SENECA  ST.,  - BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

GEORGE  B.  BURD 
Lawyer 

10-11  Erie  County  Bank  Building 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

J.  H.  NORTHERN 

Deafe^L  Hardware,  Stoves,  Cutlery 

and  General  House  Furnishing  Goods. 

Manufacturer  of  all  kinds  of  Copper,  Tin  and 
Sheet  Iron  ware.  Jo'bbing  done  on  short  notice. 
Phone.  My  Jewel  and  Northern  Light  Mantles. 

ABRAMS  & EXSTEIN  CO. 

THOMAS  MYERS,  President. 

Hats  and  Men’s  Furnishings 

77  Seneca  Street 

's3s*-'-Be!I  Phone,  Seneca  77 

EDWIN  A.  COOK 

Manufacturer  and  Dealer  in 

FINE  CARRIAGES 

BUGGIES  and  WAGONS 
ALL  KINDS  OF  WAGON  REPAIRING. 

All  Kinds  of  Rubber  Tires  Put  On  and  Repaired. 

FORSYTH’S  SHOES 

Spring  Styles  at  . . . 

$2.00,  $2.50  and  $3.00 

Tan  Colors  are  It. 

57  SENECA  STREET--^ 

..Railroad  Men.. 

WILL  FIND  ALL  THE  COMFORTS  OF  HOME 
...  at  the  ... 

Union  Terminal  Railroad  Department, 
YOUNG  MEN’S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 
Fitch  Institute  Building,  Cor.  Swan  & Michigan. 

Charles  S.  Bury 

GROCER 

BELL  OR  FRONTIER  PHONE 

394-396  Michigan  Street 
BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

ROBERT  D.  BARRY 

I A.  J.  KENDRICK  DE“ER 

SEASON.  1 MEATS  and  PROVISIONS 

Tonsorial  Parlors.  345  Michigan  St. 

LARD,  SAUSAGE,  etc.  408  Michigan  St.,  Hear  Eagle. 

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